Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) in the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region: The Complete Guide by OilWell Cannabis

For residents of Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Essex, Deep River, Chester, Clinton, Westbrook, and every community along the Connecticut River

The Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is a place where history runs deep, from the Colonial shipyards of Essex to the artistic legacy of Old Lyme. Our communities value honesty, craftsmanship, and evidence-based decision-making. We understand that when you’re facing serious health challenges—whether it’s the cancer journey that too many of our neighbors navigate at Middlesex Hospital or Yale New Haven, the chronic pain that keeps you from enjoying a walk along the Riverwalk in Old Saybrook, or the PTSD that isolates you even in our close-knit towns—you need more than promises. You need real information, backed by real science, from people who have lived the struggle themselves.

This is why we’re reaching out to the Connecticut River Valley. We may be based in Houston, but our mission—born from saving a paralyzed dog named Bentley and refined through a decade of real-world formulation—belongs anywhere people are suffering and searching for alternatives after conventional medicine falls short. That includes right here in our Connecticut home.

Understanding RSO in the Connecticut Context

Who is Rick Simpson—and Why His Story Matters to Connecticut Families

Rick Simpson wasn’t a doctor. He was a Canadian power engineer, a blue-collar tradesman who turned to cannabis after a workplace head injury left him with chronic symptoms that prescription drugs couldn’t touch. In 2003, he claimed that cannabis oil removed his basal cell carcinoma lesions—though no independent medical verification exists. What is verified is that his experience sparked a global movement that eventually reached Connecticut’s shores.

For families in the Lower Connecticut River Valley watching a loved one battle cancer at Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center or Yale Cancer Center, Simpson’s story resonates because it reflects the desperation that comes when the medical system says, “We’ve done all we can.” Connecticut legalized medical cannabis in 2012 and recreational adult use in 2021, but many patients still find themselves in the same position Simpson was in twenty years ago: searching for alternatives when standard treatments aren’t enough.

Important context: Simpson’s skin cancer story is personal testimony, not medical evidence. It catalyzed a movement, but we present it here with the same honesty we bring to everything else. In a region as educated as ours—home to Yale researchers and Connecticut College scholars—we know you can tell the difference between hope and hype.

Traditional RSO vs. What Connecticut Deserves

The original RSO protocol called for 60 grams of oil over 90 days, with doses escalating to 1 gram daily containing roughly 600-900mg of delta-9 THC. That’s a dose far beyond anything studied in controlled settings, and it came from crude, unstandardized material extracted with naphtha or isopropyl alcohol—solvents that may leave toxic residues.

Connecticut deserves better. Our state has some of the nation’s strictest cannabis testing requirements through the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Residents here expect lab-tested, precisely dosed products—whether they’re buying from a licensed dispensary in New London County or ordering from a reputable out-of-state supplier.

Traditional RSO also destroyed nearly all terpenes through high-heat processing. For Connecticut’s wine enthusiasts who understand terroir, and for anyone who’s enjoyed the aromatic gardens at Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, you know that aromatic compounds matter. Losing them isn’t just a sensory loss—it may mean losing therapeutic synergy.

The OilWell Story: From a Paralyzed Dog to Connecticut Patients

Bentley’s Miracle: The Origin of Our Mission

Our company’s foundation isn’t a business plan—it was a dog named Bentley. Bentley was paralyzed, facing euthanasia, when conventional veterinary medicine at the Connecticut Veterinary Center in Westbrook would have said there was nothing left to do. But like so many Connecticut families who’ve watched a beloved pet suffer, giving up wasn’t an option.

A rescue worker’s question changed everything: “You’ve moved how many tons of cannabis and never heard of CBD?” Colin Valencia, our founder, created a CBD golden paste formula. Bentley got up. He walked. He brought his ball to play. Dogs don’t respond to placebo—that was real cannabinoid medicine achieving what pharmaceuticals couldn’t.

For ten years, Bentley lived to age twenty. During that decade, Colin refined formulas for every age-related condition Bentley faced:

• Neurodegeneration → led to understanding CBG’s neuroprotective properties
• Dementia → revealed CBC’s role in neurogenesis
• Glaucoma → showed THC’s CB1 agonism for eye pressure
• Arthritis → required multi-pathway anti-inflammatory approaches

That decade of real-world formulation—driven by love for a dying companion—became the foundation of every product we offer Connecticut residents today.

Colin’s Personal Journey: PTSD, Benzos, and the Connecticut Connection

Colin knows pharmaceutical dependence personally. He struggled with severe PTSD and Xanax addiction. When he quit cold turkey—a feat notoriously difficult and dangerous—he used the same cannabinoid knowledge that saved Bentley.

Our Peace Gummies formula was created during midnight experiments while fighting benzo withdrawal. Colin personally uses the vape form to manage his PTSD and insomnia. This isn’t theoretical knowledge from a lab in Houston. This is lived experience from someone who understands what it’s like to be trapped in prescription cycles—something far too many Connecticut residents know all too well, given our state’s ongoing battle with opioid addiction and the search for alternatives.

Media Recognition That Speaks to Connecticut Standards

Connecticut residents value credibility. Between 2019 and 2023, ABC13 Houston—America’s fourth-largest market—featured Colin Valencia in seven news segments spanning law, medicine, community health, and politics. This isn’t paid advertising; it’s editorial judgment from a major news organization that repeatedly identified him as the go-to cannabis authority.

Key moments that matter to Connecticut:

• September 2019: “I’m not trying to sell people snake oil. I’m not trying to sell people hope. But there’s enough research out there that people just need to know and try and have the best possible version to base their opinions off of to give it a fair shot as to whether it’s right or wrong for them.”

• October 2021: When Texas abruptly banned Delta-8 overnight, Colin removed all products BEFORE enforcement and warned other operators who were unknowingly shipping Schedule I narcotics. That’s the kind of ethical leadership Connecticut expects.

• October 2022: Colin revealed his personal marijuana conviction history. “I would love to see people not get hurt for this anymore.” Every quote carries more weight when you know he’s lived the consequences.

This media record—earned, not purchased—demonstrates the transparency and integrity that Connecticut’s educated consumers demand.

The Science Behind Every Drop: What Connecticut Researchers Need to Know

Our Evidence Hierarchy

Connecticut is home to world-class research institutions. We respect that audience. Our approach mirrors academic standards: human clinical evidence first, then systematic reviews, then institutional summaries, then preclinical data. Here’s what the peer-reviewed literature actually says about each compound in our formula:

CBD (4,500mg in our sublingual oil):

• Strongest evidence: Epidiolex for rare epilepsies—FDA-approved, human-validated
• Anxiety: 2024 meta-analysis of 316 participants shows statistically significant anxiolytic signal but authors stress clinical sample remains limited
• Pain: 2024 systematic review calls literature “promising but heterogeneous”
• Sleep: 2023 insomnia review found studies “methodologically weak” with few objective measures
• Safety: 2023 meta-analysis found real signal for liver enzyme elevation—especially relevant for oral concentrates and polypharmacy

CBG (3,000mg):

• Status: 2021 review in Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics notes it’s “already being sold commercially while the evidence base remains thin”
• Mechanisms: interacts with CB receptors, alpha-2 adrenoceptors, 5-HT1A signaling
• Research areas: neurologic disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, antibacterial activity—all preclinical
• Bottom line: “promising minor cannabinoid with limited clinical validation”

Delta-8 THC (6,000mg):

• Comparative pharmacology: 2022 review in British Journal of Pharmacology found “broadly similar” behavior to delta-9 THC but “less potent” due to weaker CB1 affinity
• 2023 scoping review: evidence base “dominated by animal studies” with “reports of adverse consequences” and “regulatory concerns”
• Bottom line: psychoactive analogue with real activity but incomplete safety characterization and manufacturing uncertainties

THCa (1,500mg):

• Chemistry: thermodynamically unstable, converts to delta-9 THC with heat
• Research: in vitro and rodent literature suggest anti-inflammatory (COX-2 inhibition) and neuroprotective (PPARγ agonism) possibilities, but no established human outcomes
• Critical distinction: THCa itself is non-psychoactive, but our product puts the decarboxylation choice in YOUR hands

Delta-9 THC (90mg total):

• Institutional support: NCCIH acknowledges relevance for chemo nausea, HIV/AIDS appetite, MS symptoms
• Chronic pain: 2022 systematic review found “short-term pain benefit” but increased dizziness, sedation, nausea, and discontinuation
• Mental health: 2025 systematic review of high-concentration products found “consistent unfavorable associations with psychosis or schizophrenia outcomes”
• Our approach: dramatically reduced delta-9 exposure (90mg total per bottle vs. Simpson’s 600-900mg/day) prioritizes safety while maintaining therapeutic potential through other cannabinoids

CBN (750mg):

• Sleep claims: 2021 narrative review screened 99 abstracts, found NO clinical trials using validated sleep questionnaires or polysomnography
• 2024 sleep review: concluded research “does not match scale of real-world use”
• Bottom line: marketing has clearly moved ahead of data—the gap between reputation and evidence is widest here

CBC (750mg):

• 2024 review: “over-the-counter CBC products are already being sold despite little evidence establishing clinical efficacy or safety”
• Pharmacology: distinct from other cannabinoids, shows antinociceptive, antibacterial, anti-seizure signals in animals
• Status: “scientifically credible minor cannabinoid that deserves more research”

Terpenes: The Aromatic Dimension Connecticut Understands

Our region appreciates nuance. Our terpene profile—5% live terpenes including limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, humulene, terpinolene—is designed for both experience and potential synergy. But we won’t overstate:

• Caryophyllene is the standout: a selective CB2 agonist, making it pharmacologically unique among terpenes
• Limonene and linalool oxidation products can be contact allergens—important for our many residents with sensitive skin
• Entourage effect literature remains “promising but not clinically proven” in humans
• Myrcene’s reputation as a sedative “remains far ahead of definitive human proof”
• Pinene’s memory-enhancing claims are “interesting hypotheses rather than settled facts”

We include terpenes because they matter to the experience and may contribute to effects—but we’re honest about the evidence limits.

Our Connecticut-Ready Products: Complete Transparency

RSO Sublingual Oil — $129.99

• Live Terpenes: 5% (limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, humulene, terpinolene)
• Base: Organic MCT oil
• Dosing: Graduated dropper, 0.1mL increments
• Onset: 15-45 minutes (perfect for planning your day along the Connecticut River)
• Duration: 4-6 hours

What this means for you in Connecticut:

• Daytime use: Keep it raw (non-psychoactive) for anti-inflammatory support while working at Electric Boat in Groton or commuting to New Haven
• Evening use: Decarboxylate for full-potency relief after a day sailing on the Sound or hiking in Cockaponset State Forest
• Precise dosing: Essential for Connecticut’s many seniors managing multiple medications

RSO Vape Cartridge — $49.99

• Live Terpenes: 5%+
• Compatibility: 510-thread batteries (widely available at Connecticut vape shops)
• Onset: 1-2 minutes (ideal for breakthrough pain or panic attacks)
• Use when: You need rapid relief before a stressful meeting in Essex or acute nausea during chemo at Smilow Cancer Hospital

When to Use Each Format in Connecticut

Connecticut Legal Framework: What You Need to Know

Farm Bill Compliance and Connecticut State Law

Our products are legal under the 2018 Farm Bill and Connecticut law because:

• Total delta-9 THC: Only 90mg per 30mL bottle = 3mg/mL = 0.3% by weight (the legal threshold)
• Source: All cannabinoids hemp-derived
• THCa framework: Sold in acidic, non-psychoactive form; you control conversion

Connecticut-specific considerations:

• Recreational cannabis has been legal since July 2021, but dispensaries remain limited, especially in our region
• Medical cannabis program exists but requires qualifying conditions and registration
• Our advantage: No medical card needed. Age 21+ only. We ship directly to your home in Lyme, Old Lyme, Deep River, or anywhere in the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

Important: Connecticut law prohibits public consumption. Our vape format is discreet for private use; our sublingual oil is completely odorless and can be used anywhere without drawing attention.

Your Responsibility as a Connecticut Consumer

• Decarboxylation choice: If you heat THCa to convert to THC, you’re creating a psychoactive product. Use responsibly. Don’t drive impaired on I-95 or Route 9.
• Drug testing: Delta-8 THC and decarboxylated THCa will trigger positive results. Connecticut employers may test. If you work at Millstone Power Station, Electric Boat, or other sensitive facilities, consider raw THCa use only.
• Medical consultation: Always discuss with your physician at Middlesex Health, Yale New Haven Health, or Lawrence + Memorial before starting, especially if you’re undergoing cancer treatment or managing chronic conditions.

Delivery to the Connecticut River Valley

We Ship to Every Town in the Region

No same-day delivery (we’re in Houston, not Old Saybrook), but we offer:

• Free shipping on orders over $100 to Connecticut addresses
• Priority USPS (2-3 business days) to:
  • Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Essex, Deep River, Chester, Clinton, Westbrook
  • All other Middlesex and New London County towns
  • New Haven County and beyond
• Discreet packaging — no cannabis branding, looks like any wellness supplement
• Temperature-stable for those hot summer days when you’re at Hammonasset Beach
• Tracking provided so you know when to expect it

International note: While we can ship worldwide, if you’re a Connecticut resident with a second home in Canada or Europe, contact us about customs requirements. The THCa framework makes this possible where legal.

Condition-Specific Context for Connecticut Residents

For Cancer Patients in Connecticut:
We know many of you are being treated at Smilow Cancer Hospital, Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center, or Yale Cancer Center. Our formula’s multi-cannabinoid approach (delta-8 for nausea, CBD for anxiety, CBN for sleep) complements standard care. But we are explicit: RSO is not a cancer cure. Use alongside your oncologist’s treatment, not instead of it.

For Chronic Pain After Years of Physical Labor:
Whether you worked at the sub base in Groton, the shipyards, or spent decades lobstering out of Clinton Harbor, chronic pain is real. Our sublingual oil’s raw option lets you manage inflammation during work hours without impairment. The decarboxylated version provides evening relief.

For PTSD Among Connecticut Veterans:
Connecticut has significant veteran populations around the sub base and beyond. Our Peace Gummies formula (born from Colin’s benzo withdrawal) and the vape format (for acute episodes) are designed for military trauma. Colin’s personal PTSD story resonates with many who’ve served.

For Sleep Issues in Our High-Stress Region:
Between commuting to Hartford or New York, financial pressures in affluent towns, and the constant stress of modern life, sleep disorders are epidemic. Our CBN content (750mg) delivers research-level doses for sleep architecture. Start with 1mL sublingual before bed.

For Anxiety in Connecticut’s Professional Class:
The lawyers in Essex, the finance professionals in Madison, the academics in New Haven—you need daytime functionality. Use 0.3mL raw sublingual for CBD+CBG anxiolytic effects without any high. No one at your office in New London County will know.

Open-Source Formulas: The Connecticut DIY Option

We publish our complete formulas because Simpson gave his away for free. If $129.99 isn’t in your budget after paying Connecticut property taxes, you can make your own:

To make our sublingual oil:

• Source hemp-derived CBD distillate (4,500mg)
• CBG isolate (3,000mg)
• Delta-8 THC distillate (6,000mg)
• THCa isolate (1,500mg)
• Delta-9 THC distillate (90mg)
• CBN isolate (750mg)
• CBC isolate (750mg)
• Dissolve in 30mL organic MCT oil with 5% terpene blend

Quality note: Connecticut’s hemp market has reputable suppliers. Ensure each ingredient has third-party COAs testing for pesticides, heavy metals, and residual solvents. This is exactly what we do for every batch we produce.

The Connecticut Bottom Line: Why OilWell

Connecticut residents don’t fall for slick marketing. You want:

• Transparency: Every mg published, every COA available
• Evidence: 29 peer-reviewed citations, not influencer hype
• Safety: Solvent-free, lab-tested, Farm Bill compliant
• Control: You decide on psychoactivity
• Accessibility: Ships to your door in the Lower Connecticut River Valley, no medical card needed

From the rocky shores of Old Lyme where artists have painted for generations, to the historic main streets of Essex and Deep River, to the working waterfronts of Clinton and Westbrook—Connecticut’s character is built on integrity. We built OilWell on the same foundation.

Order today for delivery to your Connecticut home: OilWell RSO Products

Questions about using RSO in Connecticut? Call (832) 416-2816 or email [email protected]. We’re happy to discuss how our products fit Connecticut’s legal landscape and your specific health needs.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For adult use only (21+). Keep out of reach of children. Consult your healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.