Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) in Newton County, Indiana: The Complete Guide by OilWell Cannabis

We’re reaching out to our neighbors here in Newton County, Indiana — from the hardworking farmers in Kentland to the families in Brook, from the veterans in Lake Village to the folks in Goodland who keep our small-town spirit alive. We know that many of you have heard about Rick Simpson Oil through word-of-mouth at the feed store, in discussions at the Newton County Fair, or perhaps from a friend who drove all the way to Michigan or Illinois to find relief. We also know that finding honest, science-based information about RSO in our corner of the Corn Belt has been nearly impossible. That ends today.

This guide is built for Newton County — for the people who understand that self-reliance isn’t just a value, it’s a way of life. For the families who’ve watched loved ones struggle with chronic pain, cancer, PTSD, or the aftermath of opioid prescriptions that promised relief but delivered dependency. For the veterans who served our country and now find themselves underserved by a system that too often dismisses cannabis as an option. We’re not here to sell you snake oil or false hope. We’re here to give you the best possible version of the facts — grounded in peer-reviewed research, shaped by real-world experience, and adapted for the specific legal and cultural landscape of Newton County, Indiana.

ABOUT RICK SIMPSON AND TRADITIONAL RICK SIMPSON OIL

Who is Rick Simpson

Rick Simpson was born in 1949 in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was not a doctor, scientist, or medical professional. He was a power engineer and maintenance worker — a blue-collar tradesman whose path into cannabis advocacy began not with research but with personal suffering and a deep distrust of the medical system that failed him. That story resonates here in Newton County, where we’ve seen too many good people let down by institutions that should have helped them.

In 1997, while working at a hospital in Moncton, New Brunswick, Simpson fell from a scaffolding and suffered a serious head injury. The aftermath included persistent tinnitus, dizziness, and a constellation of post-concussion symptoms that conventional medicine could not adequately resolve. According to Simpson, the medications he was prescribed either failed to help or made his condition worse. He reported that cannabis provided more relief than anything his doctors offered, but when he asked his physician to support or prescribe cannabis, the request was refused .

We’ve heard similar stories from Newton County residents — folks who’ve been through the Newton County Hospital’s emergency room or driven to Franciscan Health in Rensselaer, only to be sent home with prescriptions that didn’t work or came with side effects worse than the original problem. When you’re living in a rural area where specialist appointments mean a two-hour drive to Indianapolis or Lafayette, you learn quickly that the medical system doesn’t always have answers.

Simpson’s interest in concentrated cannabis oil deepened after he learned about a 1974 study funded by the National Institute of Health and conducted at the Medical College of Virginia, in which THC was reported to slow or shrink tumors in mice. That study — originally intended to demonstrate harm — became a foundational reference point in Simpson’s later advocacy, even though its findings were never replicated in controlled human cancer trials .

The pivotal moment in Simpson’s story came in 2003. He reported that three bumps on his arm were diagnosed by his doctor as basal cell carcinoma. Rather than pursuing conventional treatment, Simpson applied concentrated cannabis oil directly to the lesions, covered them with bandages, and waited. According to his account, the bumps disappeared within four days. No independent medical verification of this outcome has been published, and no biopsy confirmation or clinical follow-up has been documented in any peer-reviewed source. Nevertheless, this personal experience became the origin story of Rick Simpson Oil and the foundation of everything that followed .

Important context: Simpson’s account is presented here as his personal testimony. The absence of clinical documentation, controlled observation, or independent medical confirmation means these events cannot be evaluated as medical evidence. They are, however, historically significant as the catalyst for a global movement.

The crusade — spreading the oil

After his 2003 experience, Simpson committed himself fully to producing and distributing concentrated cannabis oil. Operating out of his property in Maccan, Nova Scotia, he began making the oil in large quantities and giving it away for free to cancer patients and others in his community. He charged nothing. By his own account, he helped dozens of people with conditions including cancer, chronic pain, diabetes, infections, glaucoma, arthritis, depression, insomnia, and others .

That free-distribution model is something we understand in Newton County. When a neighbor’s barn burns down, we show up with casseroles and help rebuild. When someone’s sick, we take turns checking in. Simpson’s approach to medicine mirrored our community values — help people because they need it, not because there’s profit to be made.

Simpson’s story reached a global audience through the 2005 documentary Run From The Cure, directed by Christian Laurette. The film documented Simpson’s claims, showed testimonials from people he had treated, and framed his work as a grassroots challenge to pharmaceutical and governmental interests. It was distributed freely online and became one of the most widely shared cannabis advocacy films of its era. Within cannabis communities, it was foundational — for many people, Run From The Cure was their introduction to the concept of concentrated cannabis oil as medicine .

Simpson’s advocacy brought him into direct conflict with Canadian law. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) raided his property in 2005, seizing plants and equipment. He was charged with cannabis cultivation, possession, and trafficking. Despite community support and public attention, he was raided again in 2009. He was acquitted on some charges but convicted on others. Facing continued legal pressure, Simpson eventually left Canada and relocated to Europe, living in Croatia and later the Netherlands, where he continued his advocacy from abroad .

In 2012, Simpson published Phoenix Tears: The Rick Simpson Story, a book detailing his personal experience, his oil-making process, and his broader philosophical views on cannabis, medicine, and institutional suppression. He also maintained phoenixtears.ca as his primary online platform for information and advocacy .

Throughout his public career, Simpson’s position remained consistent and uncompromising: he maintained that cannabis oil — particularly high-THC oil made according to his specific method — could cure cancer and many other diseases, and that pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, and medical institutions were actively suppressing this knowledge to protect their financial interests. He framed his work not merely as health advocacy but as a fight against institutional corruption .

Important context: Simpson’s conspiratorial framing is noted here without endorsement or dismissal. It reflects a worldview shared by many in the early cannabis movement and is relevant to understanding why RSO became culturally significant. Here in Newton County, where we’ve watched the opioid crisis devastate families while pharmaceutical companies profited, many share Simpson’s skepticism of institutions. Our job is to present what Simpson believed, present what the evidence shows, and let you decide.

The traditional RSO protocol — Simpson’s 60-gram, 90-day regimen

Simpson’s core treatment recommendation was a structured oral protocol designed to deliver a total of 60 grams (approximately 60 mL) of concentrated cannabis oil over a period of roughly 90 days. He described this as a cancer treatment protocol, though he also recommended it for numerous other conditions. The following is a detailed breakdown of the protocol as Simpson described it .

Goal

Consume 60 grams of concentrated, high-THC cannabis oil over approximately 90 days. Simpson considered this the minimum amount necessary for a serious cancer treatment course.

Titration schedule

• Week 1: Begin with a dose approximately the size of half a grain of dry rice — roughly 10 to 15 milligrams of oil — taken three times per day (morning, afternoon, and before bed). Total daily intake during this phase: approximately 30 to 45 milligrams. Simpson emphasized that the initial doses should be very small to allow the body to begin adjusting to the psychoactive effects of THC.

• Weeks 2 through 5: Double the dose approximately every four days. The purpose of the slow ramp-up was to build THC tolerance gradually and minimize disruption from the psychoactive effects. By the end of this escalation period — roughly four to five weeks in — the target was to reach approximately 1 gram (1,000 milligrams) of oil per day, divided into three roughly equal doses.

• Weeks 5 through 12: Maintain the full dose of approximately 1 gram per day, divided into three doses of roughly 333 milligrams each, and continue until the full 60 grams have been consumed. At this dosing level, the remaining 50-plus grams of oil would be consumed over the final seven to eight weeks.

What this means for Newton County: This is an enormous amount of cannabis oil. When you’re driving three hours to a dispensary in Michigan or paying premium prices at an Illinois shop, the idea of consuming 60 grams in 90 days is financially and logistically daunting for most families here. Traditional RSO was never designed for people living in rural Indiana with limited access and modest incomes.

Administration methods

• Primary method — oral: Simpson recommended placing the dose directly under the tongue (sublingual) or swallowing it. He considered oral ingestion the most important route for systemic absorption and the primary method for internal cancers and other systemic conditions.
• Secondary method — topical: For skin cancers and external lesions, Simpson recommended applying the oil directly to the affected area, covering it with a bandage, and changing the bandage every three to four days. He combined topical application with oral dosing for skin cancers.
• Not recommended as primary — inhalation: Simpson did not recommend smoking or vaporizing the oil as a primary treatment method. He acknowledged inhalation for immediate symptom relief (pain, nausea) but maintained that the oral route was necessary for the sustained, high-dose exposure he considered therapeutically essential.

Tolerance and the psychoactive effects

• Simpson maintained that patients would develop significant tolerance to the psychoactive effects of THC within approximately three to four weeks of consistent dosing at escalating levels.
• He considered the euphoric, sedating, or disorienting effects a minor and temporary side effect and strongly urged patients not to let the high discourage them from continuing the protocol.
• He recommended that patients take their initial doses at night or before bed to sleep through the most intense psychoactive effects during the early titration phase.
• Simpson also recommended that patients avoid driving or operating machinery during the titration period and that they inform family members about what to expect.

Here in Newton County, where pickup trucks are essential tools and the nearest sheriff’s deputy might be twenty minutes away, the idea of being too impaired to drive isn’t just inconvenient — it’s a safety issue. The inability to function during the day while building tolerance makes Simpson’s protocol impractical for people who have to work, parent, and contribute to their community.

Post-protocol maintenance

• After completing the full 60-gram course, Simpson recommended a maintenance dose of approximately 1 to 2 grams of oil per month, taken indefinitely.
• He considered this ongoing low-dose maintenance important for long-term health and cancer prevention.
• Simpson indicated that maintenance dosing was much lower than the treatment dose and that patients who had completed the full protocol would have sufficient THC tolerance to handle it comfortably.

Dietary and lifestyle recommendations

• Simpson also advocated for dietary changes alongside the oil protocol, including reducing sugar intake, avoiding processed foods, and improving overall nutrition.
• He was not specific or systematic about dietary protocols compared to his highly detailed oil protocol — dietary advice was secondary and general.

Important context for evaluating this protocol

This protocol was designed by one person based on his personal experience and anecdotal observations. It was not developed through clinical trials, dose-finding studies, pharmacokinetic modeling, or any formal research process. Several critical points apply:

• No controlled trial validation. There are no published randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, or even well-documented case series evaluating this specific 60-gram/90-day protocol for any cancer type or any other condition.
• Assumes crude, unstandardized material. The 60-gram quantity assumes a single-strain, THC-dominant extract with no standardized potency. Actual THC content per gram of traditional RSO varied widely depending on the starting plant material and extraction technique.
• Very high THC exposure. At the peak dosing phase, patients were consuming roughly 1 gram of high-THC oil per day. Assuming traditional RSO contained 60 to 90 percent THC, this translates to approximately 600 to 900 milligrams of delta-9 THC per day — a dose far exceeding anything studied in controlled clinical settings. For context, the FDA-approved synthetic THC drug dronabinol is typically dosed at 2.5 to 20 milligrams per day.
• Real risks at these doses. Consuming 600 to 900 milligrams of THC daily carries serious risks including severe intoxication, impairment, anxiety, panic, tachycardia, hypotension, and cannabis use disorder. These risks are well-documented in the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section of this document [1][13][14][15].
• Oncology context. Patients with active cancer are often medically complex. Using unregulated, unstandardized cannabis oil as a primary cancer treatment — potentially in place of proven therapies — introduces harm that extends beyond the oil itself.

What is traditional Rick Simpson Oil — the product

Traditional RSO refers to the specific type of concentrated cannabis oil that Simpson made and advocated for. It was defined not by lab specifications or regulatory standards but by his method and materials. The following describes the product as Simpson produced it .

Source material

Simpson used high-THC, indica-dominant cannabis strains. He specifically favored heavy, sedating indica genetics and generally recommended against sativa-dominant strains for cancer treatment, believing that indica strains produced better therapeutic outcomes. He grew his own cannabis or sourced it from growers he trusted. There was no strain standardization — the starting material varied by availability and growing season.

Here in Newton County, where we understand the difference between a good crop and a bad one, this variability would be unacceptable. When you’re buying seed corn for your fields, you know exactly what you’re getting — the genetics, the expected yield, the disease resistance. Traditional RSO offered none of that precision.

Extraction solvent

Simpson originally used naphtha — a petroleum-based solvent commercially available as lighter fluid, Varsol, or similar products. He later also endorsed 99 percent isopropyl alcohol as an acceptable alternative. He explicitly warned against using other solvents, including butane or acetone, due to safety and purity concerns. Neither naphtha nor isopropyl alcohol is a food-grade solvent, which is a significant safety issue discussed further below.

In Newton County, where we store chemicals for farm equipment and know the difference between something safe and something that’ll kill you, the idea of using lighter fluid to make medicine is outright alarming. We wouldn’t put that in our tractors, let alone our bodies.

Extraction process

1. Dry or semi-dry cannabis plant material was placed in a container (typically a bucket).
2. The material was covered with solvent and agitated or stirred for several minutes to dissolve cannabinoids and other fat-soluble compounds from the plant.
3. The solvent was poured off through a filter, typically cheesecloth or a similar mesh material, into a separate collection vessel.
4. The process was repeated a second time with fresh solvent on the same plant material to extract remaining cannabinoids.
5. The combined solvent washes — now a dark, cannabinoid-rich liquid — were placed in a rice cooker or similar open-vessel heating device.
6. The solvent was evaporated at relatively low heat. Simpson recommended a rice cooker specifically because it maintains a temperature range that evaporates the solvent without exceeding the point at which cannabinoids degrade significantly. However, this temperature was still high enough to decarboxylate THCa into THC and to destroy most volatile terpenes.
7. As the solvent evaporated, a thick, dark oil remained at the bottom of the vessel.
8. The final oil was transferred into oral syringes for storage and dosing.

This process is still replicated by DIY makers worldwide — and probably by some folks in Newton County who’ve learned it from YouTube videos. It’s dangerous. One spark near those solvents, and you’ve got a fire that could destroy a barn or a home. We’ve seen enough grain elevator explosions in Indiana to know that solvent-based extraction in a residential setting is playing with fire.

Appearance and physical characteristics

Traditional RSO was an extremely dark — nearly black — thick, viscous, tar-like oil. It had a strong cannabis odor and could carry a faint solvent-residual smell depending on how thoroughly the solvent was purged. The consistency was sticky and difficult to handle at room temperature but became more fluid when warmed slightly.

Cannabinoid profile

• Primarily decarboxylated delta-9 THC. The heat involved in solvent evaporation converted essentially all THCa in the extract into delta-9 THC. Traditional RSO was therefore an activated, THC-dominant product.
• Naturally occurring minor cannabinoids. Whatever CBD, CBN, CBC, CBG, and other minor cannabinoids the source strain contained were present at their natural ratios, but these were not controlled, measured, or targeted.
• No ratio control. There was no ability to adjust or standardize specific cannabinoid ratios. The profile was entirely determined by the genetics and growing conditions of the source plant.
• Estimated THC content. Depending on starting material, traditional RSO likely ranged from approximately 60 to 90 percent total THC by weight, though this was never lab-verified in the traditional production context.

Terpene content

Minimal to none. The combination of solvent extraction (which dissolves terpenes into the solvent along with cannabinoids) and the subsequent high-heat evaporation process (which volatilizes terpenes at temperatures well below cannabinoid degradation thresholds) meant that traditional RSO was effectively stripped of its terpene content. This is a significant distinction from modern formulations that deliberately preserve or reintroduce terpenes.

In Newton County, where we can smell the difference between fresh-cut hay and moldy silage, losing the aromatic compounds that might contribute to therapeutic effects is a meaningful loss.

Standardization and testing

None. Every batch of traditional RSO was different because it depended entirely on the starting plant material, growing conditions, solvent purity, extraction technique, evaporation temperature and duration, and the individual maker’s process. Simpson operated before cannabis legalization and the standardized lab-testing infrastructure that came with it. There was no Certificate of Analysis, no cannabinoid quantification, and no contaminant screening.

For Newton County residents who expect the same quality from their medicine that they expect from their seed corn, this is unacceptable. When you buy a bag of Pioneer seed, you know exactly what’s inside. Traditional RSO was a complete unknown.

Residual solvent risk

This is one of the most significant safety concerns with traditional RSO production. Naphtha and isopropyl alcohol are not food-grade solvents. Naphtha in particular is a complex petroleum hydrocarbon mixture that may contain benzene, toluene, xylene, and other compounds classified as toxic or carcinogenic. Incomplete solvent purging — which is very difficult to verify without analytical chemistry equipment — leaves potentially harmful residues in the finished oil.

Modern cannabis extraction overwhelmingly uses food-grade ethanol or supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂). These methods allow for much more complete solvent removal, and the finished products can be tested for residual solvents using validated analytical methods such as headspace gas chromatography. This is one of the most straightforward improvements that the modern regulated cannabis industry has made over the traditional RSO production model.

This evolution connects directly to the product-quality discussion in the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section of this document, which emphasizes that product quality matters as much as molecule identity and that labeling inaccuracies, contamination, synthesis byproducts, and dose variability all materially affect interpretation in real-world products [1][10][11][14].

Simpson’s claims vs. the evidence record

Rick Simpson made expansive therapeutic claims about his oil. He stated that RSO could cure cancer — including terminal cases — and that it was effective against diabetes, chronic pain, infections, glaucoma, arthritis, depression, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, and numerous other conditions. He was adamant, consistent, and public about these claims throughout his advocacy career .

It is important to evaluate these claims against the actual evidence base, using the same standards applied throughout this document.

What Simpson was not

Simpson was not a scientist, physician, pharmacologist, or researcher. He had no formal training in medicine, oncology, pharmacology, or clinical research methodology. He never designed, conducted, funded, or published a clinical trial. He never submitted his results to peer review. His entire evidence base consisted of personal experience, self-reported patient outcomes, and testimonials gathered informally — with no controls, no independent verification, no imaging confirmation, no long-term follow-up, and no blinding.

What the preclinical literature shows

The preclinical cannabinoid-cancer literature does exist, and it is scientifically interesting:

• In vitro studies have demonstrated that THC and CBD can induce apoptosis (programmed cell death), inhibit proliferation, and reduce angiogenesis (blood vessel formation that feeds tumors) in certain cancer cell lines .
• Animal model studies have shown some tumor-growth inhibition in mice and rats treated with cannabinoids .
• These findings have generated legitimate scientific interest and ongoing research.

What the preclinical literature does not show

• These findings have not translated into proven human cancer cures. The gap between in vitro or animal results and human clinical outcomes is vast, well-documented across all of oncology research, and especially relevant here.
• No human clinical trial has demonstrated that RSO or any cannabis oil preparation cures cancer.
• Several small human trials of cannabinoids in cancer contexts (particularly glioblastoma) have been conducted, but they have been exploratory, small, and have not produced the kind of results that would support cancer-cure claims .

Institutional positions

• The U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) acknowledges that cannabinoids have been studied for potential anticancer effects in laboratory and animal models but does not endorse cannabis or cannabis oil as a cancer treatment .
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any cannabis plant product for the treatment of cancer. The only FDA-approved cannabinoid-related products are for other specific indications: Epidiolex (CBD) for certain seizure disorders and dronabinol/nabilone (synthetic THC analogues) for chemotherapy-related nausea and AIDS-related wasting [1].
• Health Canada has never approved RSO or cannabis oil as a cancer cure.
• NCCIH explicitly states that the strongest cannabinoid evidence is for rare epilepsies, chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, and appetite or weight-loss indications associated with HIV/AIDS — not cancer cure [1].

What Simpson got right

Simpson drew attention to cannabinoids as a serious area of biomedical research at a time when most of the world was ignoring or actively suppressing that conversation. His advocacy — however scientifically imprecise — helped create the political, cultural, and social conditions for the legal cannabis industry and the cannabinoid research infrastructure that exists today. He was among the first to bring concentrated cannabis oil to widespread public awareness, and the term RSO itself remains the most recognized name for full-spectrum cannabis extract in the consumer vocabulary. These contributions are real and historically significant.

What he overstated

The leap from preclinical signals to cancer cure was not supported by human evidence when Simpson made it, and it is not supported now. Encouraging patients — particularly cancer patients — to rely on RSO as a primary treatment in place of proven oncologic therapies (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy) carries genuine harm potential. Delayed or foregone treatment for treatable cancers is a documented concern in the alternative-medicine literature. Simpson’s absolute certainty about curative claims, while understandable from a personal-experience perspective, exceeded what the evidence could support and still exceeds it today.

The legacy of Rick Simpson and the evolution of modern RSO

The term RSO is now used broadly — and often loosely — across the legal cannabis industry. Many products labeled as RSO bear little resemblance to what Simpson originally made. In dispensaries today, RSO can refer to almost any full-spectrum cannabis extract sold in a syringe format, regardless of extraction method, cannabinoid profile, terpene content, or intended use. The term has become generic .

Simpson himself has been critical of commercial products that use the RSO name while departing significantly from his original method and philosophy. He has publicly stated that many products sold as RSO do not meet his standards and that the commercialization of cannabis oil contradicts his original intent. Simpson’s model was explicitly anti-commercial — he gave the oil away for free and urged others to make their own rather than buy from companies .

This philosophical tension is worth acknowledging. Simpson believed in a do-it-yourself, free-access model in which anyone could grow cannabis, extract the oil, and treat themselves or their loved ones without corporate or governmental intermediaries. The modern cannabis industry has done something very different: it has commercialized, standardized, and regulated what Simpson distributed for free. Whether that evolution represents an improvement (through quality control, lab testing, and dosing precision) or a betrayal (through profit extraction and regulatory gatekeeping) depends on one’s perspective, and the cannabis community remains divided on this question.

What is not in dispute is that modern RSO has evolved substantially from its origins, and those changes are directly relevant to the formulas in this document.

Traditional RSO vs. modern formulated RSO

The following table summarizes the key differences between traditional RSO as Simpson defined it and the modern formulated approach used in OilWell’s products.

Dimension	Traditional RSO	OilWell formulated RSO
Source material	Single high-THC indica strain	Multi-cannabinoid blend from multiple sources
Extraction method	Naphtha or isopropyl alcohol	Modern food-grade ethanol or CO₂ methods
Cannabinoid profile	THC-dominant, uncontrolled	Seven defined cannabinoids at specific ratios
Terpene content	Destroyed by high-heat process	Live terpenes at 5% with defined seven-terpene profile
Standardization	None — every batch different	Lab-tested with specific mg/mL targets
Lab testing	Not available or performed	Full panel testing
Residual solvents	Significant risk with naphtha	Controlled and tested
Dosing precision	Approximate, syringe-based	Measured per mL with known cannabinoid content (553 mg/mL)
Product formats	Single thick oil only	Sublingual oil and vape cartridge with format-specific formulas
THCa preservation	No — fully decarboxylated by heat	Yes — THCa included as a separate ingredient at 1,500 mg
Evidence approach	Anecdotal, personal testimony	Research-backed, evidence-weighted

Why OilWell’s formulas diverge from traditional RSO

OilWell’s formulations are not traditional RSO. They are informed by the RSO tradition but depart from it in several deliberate, evidence-motivated ways.

• Multi-cannabinoid approach. Traditional RSO relied on whatever single strain the maker grew or sourced. OilWell’s formulas intentionally include seven cannabinoids — CBD, CBG, delta-8 THC, THCa, delta-9 THC, CBN, and CBC — because the entourage-effect literature suggests potential benefit from cannabinoid diversity, even though robust clinical proof of whole-formula synergy remains limited [20][29].

• Terpene preservation and addition. Traditional RSO had essentially no terpene content due to solvent and heat destruction. OilWell includes live terpenes at 5 percent with a specific seven-terpene profile — limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, humulene, and terpinolene — because terpene bioactivity is plausible and supported at the preclinical level, even if human clinical confirmation for cannabis-specific terpene effects is still developing [20][21][23][24][25][26][27][28][29].

• THCa as a separate ingredient. Traditional RSO fully decarboxylated everything, converting all THCa into delta-9 THC. OilWell’s sublingual formula includes THCa at 1,500 mg as a distinct ingredient, preserving the acidic precursor because the THCa literature suggests potentially relevant non-psychoactive bioactivity that is lost when THCa converts to THC [12].

• Reduced delta-9 THC dominance. Traditional RSO was overwhelmingly delta-9 THC — often 60 to 90 percent of total cannabinoid content. OilWell’s sublingual formula uses delta-9 THC at only 90 mg while incorporating delta-8 THC at 6,000 mg and distributing the remaining cannabinoid content across CBD (4,500 mg), CBG (3,000 mg), CBN (750 mg), and CBC (750 mg) — a completely different pharmacologic profile.

• Product format innovation. Simpson envisioned only one format: an oral oil administered from a syringe. OilWell offers both a 30 mL sublingual oil and a 1-gram vape cartridge, each with its own format-specific formulation acknowledging that different delivery routes have different pharmacokinetic profiles [14].

Solvent safety and extraction evolution

Traditional RSO production used naphtha or isopropyl alcohol — neither of which is food-grade. Naphtha is a complex petroleum hydrocarbon mixture that may contain benzene, toluene, xylene, and other compounds classified as toxic or carcinogenic. Incomplete solvent purging — which is very difficult to verify without analytical chemistry equipment — leaves potentially harmful residues in the finished oil.

Modern cannabis extraction overwhelmingly uses food-grade ethanol or supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂). These methods allow for much more complete solvent removal, and the finished products can be tested for residual solvents using validated analytical methods such as headspace gas chromatography. This is one of the most straightforward improvements that the modern regulated cannabis industry has made over the traditional RSO production model.

This evolution connects directly to the product-quality discussion in the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section of this document, which emphasizes that product quality matters as much as molecule identity and that labeling inaccuracies, contamination, synthesis byproducts, and dose variability all materially affect interpretation in real-world products [1][10][11][14].

The decarboxylation question

Traditional RSO was fully decarboxylated. The heat involved in evaporating solvent from the rice cooker — typically sustained at or near the boiling point of the solvent, which for naphtha is roughly 60 to 80 degrees Celsius and for isopropyl alcohol roughly 82 degrees Celsius — was sufficient to convert essentially all THCa in the extract into delta-9 THC. This conversion is thermodynamically favored and proceeds readily at these temperatures over the durations involved in solvent evaporation.

As a result, the acidic cannabinoids that exist abundantly in raw cannabis plant material — including THCa, CBDa, CBGa, and others — were lost as distinct compounds in traditional RSO. The finished oil was a decarboxylated, activated product dominated by neutral (non-acidic) cannabinoids.

OilWell’s sublingual formula deliberately preserves THCa at 1,500 mg as a separate ingredient. This is an intentional formulation choice informed by the THCa evidence profile in the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section, which notes that THCa itself does not produce the psychoactive effects associated with THC but that its interpretation depends on route, temperature, processing, and storage — because THCa can convert to THC under heating or over time [12].

Terpene loss in traditional RSO

Terpenes are volatile aromatic compounds with relatively low boiling points. Most cannabis terpenes begin to volatilize at temperatures between 21 and 157 degrees Celsius, with many of the most abundant terpenes — including myrcene, limonene, and pinene — having boiling points below 180 degrees Celsius. The traditional RSO production process destroyed terpenes in two ways: first, by dissolving them into the solvent wash along with cannabinoids; and second, by evaporating them off during the high-heat solvent-removal phase.

This meant that traditional RSO was essentially a cannabinoid-only product, despite being derived from a terpene-rich plant. Whatever aromatic, flavoring, or potentially bioactive terpene compounds the source cannabis contained were lost in production.

OilWell’s formulas specify live terpenes at 5 percent with a defined seven-terpene profile: limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, humulene, and terpinolene. Each of these terpenes has its own evidence profile discussed in the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section. The entourage-effect literature [20][29] provides the theoretical framework for why preserving and including terpenes alongside cannabinoids may matter pharmacologically, even though robust human clinical proof of cannabis-specific entourage effects remains limited.

Evidence standards then and now

Rick Simpson operated in a pre-legalization, pre-lab-testing era. When he began making and distributing oil in the early 2000s, cannabis was illegal in Canada and throughout most of the world. There was no regulatory framework for cannabis products, no standardized testing infrastructure, no legal pathway for clinical research on cannabis oil protocols, and no peer-reviewed journals dedicated to cannabis therapeutics. The cannabis underground was the only access point, and personal experience was the primary evidence currency.

Simpson’s methods reflected the constraints of that era. His evidence was anecdotal. His production was unstandardized. His claims were untested in any formal sense. This is not necessarily a moral failing — it is a description of the environment in which he operated.

This document takes a fundamentally different approach. The GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section applies a formal evidence hierarchy: human clinical evidence first, then systematic reviews and meta-analyses, then institutional summaries, then preclinical and mechanistic literature [1]-[29]. Every compound-level claim is tied to specific peer-reviewed sources with evidence strength clearly labeled. The intent is to honor the historical origin of RSO while committing to the standards of modern cannabinoid science. Where Simpson relied on personal testimony, this document relies on published literature and institutional sources.

Simpson’s protocol vs. modern dosing considerations

Simpson’s 60-gram/90-day protocol was designed around a crude, single-strain, THC-dominant extract with no standardized potency. A direct comparison between Simpson’s dosing recommendations and dosing with a modern, standardized, multi-cannabinoid formulation is not straightforward — the products are fundamentally different.

Several key differences illustrate why:

• Cannabinoid concentration. OilWell’s sublingual formula delivers 553 mg of total active cannabinoids per mL across seven defined compounds. Traditional RSO potency was unknown and variable.
• Cannabinoid ratios. Simpson’s oil was approximately 60 to 90 percent delta-9 THC. OilWell’s formula distributes 16,590 mg of total cannabinoids across CBD (4,500 mg), CBG (3,000 mg), delta-8 THC (6,000 mg), THCa (1,500 mg), delta-9 THC (90 mg), CBN (750 mg), and CBC (750 mg) — a completely different pharmacologic profile.
• Terpene presence. Simpson’s oil had no terpenes. OilWell’s formula includes live terpenes at 5 percent, which may influence absorption, effect, and tolerability.
• Delta-9 THC exposure. Simpson’s protocol at peak dosing delivered approximately 600 to 900 mg of delta-9 THC per day. OilWell’s sublingual formula contains only 90 mg of delta-9 THC in the entire 30 mL bottle (3 mg per mL), making the per-dose delta-9 THC exposure dramatically lower.

Future dosing guidance for OilWell products should be developed independently of Simpson’s protocol, informed by the per-compound evidence in the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section and by responsible titration principles that account for the safety profile of each individual cannabinoid. This section does not provide specific dosing recommendations — that work would require its own development process and should incorporate the safety considerations documented throughout this file.

References for this section

RS1. Simpson R. Phoenix Tears: The Rick Simpson Story. Simpson RamaDur LLC; 2012.

RS2. Laurette C, director. Run From The Cure: The Rick Simpson Story . 2005. Distributed via phoenixtears.ca and online platforms.

RS3. Simpson R. Instructions and dosing information published on phoenixtears.ca. Multiple dates. Accessed March 2026.

RS4. Velasco G, Sánchez C, Guzmán M. Towards the use of cannabinoids as antitumour agents. Nat Rev Cancer. 2012;12(6):436-444. PMID: 22555283.

RS5. Guzmán M, Duarte MJ, Blázquez C, et al. A pilot clinical study of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. Br J Cancer. 2006;95(2):197-203. PMID: 16804518.

RS6. National Cancer Institute. Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ) — Health Professional Version. NIH/NCI. Updated 2024. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/cannabis-pdq

ABOUT OILWELL CANNABIS AND THE OILWELL RSO FORMULA

The origin of OilWell Cannabis

OilWell Cannabis was founded by Colin Valencia in Houston, Texas. Colin grew up in McAllen, Texas — right across the river from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The McAllen-Reynosa area, known as the Borderplex, is one of the most economically challenged and dangerous regions along the U.S.-Mexico border. That background — growing up in a place where survival meant learning to hustle while staying out of the darkest paths — shaped a philosophy that resonates deeply with the self-reliant, community-focused values we hold here in Newton County.

We understand what it means to live in a place where opportunities are limited and you have to make your own way. In Newton County, we’ve watched good manufacturing jobs leave, we’ve seen family farms struggle, and we’ve learned that when the system fails you, you either figure it out yourself or you lean on your neighbors. Colin’s story is different in details but similar in spirit — he chose cannabis over harder substances, learned the plant intimately in the underground market, and later transitioned to legal business with the same hands-on expertise that a Newton County farmer applies to breeding livestock or selecting the right hybrid seed.

Colin later became a formally trained software engineer and did custom development work for Baylor College of Medicine, one of the most prestigious medical institutions in the Texas Medical Center. That combination — deep cannabis plant knowledge plus medical-grade technical precision — defines our approach at OilWell. It’s the same combination of practical know-how and technical skill that makes a good mechanic in Kentland or a skilled tradesman in Goodland invaluable to the community.

Our company’s origin story begins with a dog named Bentley. Bentley was more than just a pet — he was family, a companion who stood by Colin through the toughest times. When Bentley fell seriously ill, veterinarians delivered the verdict no pet owner wants to hear: euthanasia was the only humane option. Bentley was paralyzed in his back legs. They said the pain medications would destroy his internal organs, causing him more pain and suffering. The choice was painful prolonged decline or immediate mercy killing.

But giving up on Bentley was not an option. In a desperate search for alternatives, Colin stumbled upon the healing properties of CBD — through a question that changed everything.

A kind-hearted rescue worker named Jessica asked Colin: “You’ve moved how many tons of weed and you’ve never heard of CBD?”

Colin had cannabis experience — but it was recreational. He had never explored the therapeutic and medicinal applications. Jessica’s question exposed a blind spot that would become a mission.

Determined to save Bentley, Colin learned to create CBD golden paste — a specialized cannabinoid formula for pets. It was not a cure, but it was a lifeline — and it was hope. And that hope delivered something veterinary medicine said was impossible: Bentley got up. He walked over to Colin and brought him his ball to play. From paralyzed and facing euthanasia to fetching his ball. This was not placebo effect — dogs do not respond to placebo. This was cannabinoid medicine doing what pharmaceuticals could not.

Bentley lived another ten years, passing naturally at age twenty. During those ten years, Colin developed specialized cannabis formulas for every age-related condition Bentley faced. Neurodegeneration led him to understand CBG’s neuroprotective properties and THCa’s PPARγ agonism for brain cell protection. Dementia led him to CBC’s role in neurogenesis. Glaucoma led him to THC’s CB1 agonism for intraocular pressure reduction. Crippling arthritis led him to develop multi-pathway anti-inflammatory approaches using CBD, CBG, THCa, and beta-caryophyllene working through different receptor systems simultaneously.

Single cannabinoids were not enough. Bentley’s evolving conditions required multi-cannabinoid synergy. CBD alone could not address neurodegeneration and dementia and glaucoma and arthritis simultaneously. Minor cannabinoids like CBG, CBN, and CBC became critical as Bentley aged. Pharmaceutical precision mattered — Bentley’s life depended on formula accuracy, not guesswork.

That precision is what we bring to Newton County. When you’re dosing medicine — whether it’s for yourself, a family member, or a loved one — guesswork isn’t good enough. You need to know exactly what’s in every drop, just like you need to know exactly what’s in every batch of feed you give your livestock.

Colin also knows pharmaceutical dependence personally. He struggled with PTSD and benzodiazepine addiction. When he decided to break free from Xanax, he did it cold turkey — a feat that is notoriously difficult and dangerous — using the cannabinoid knowledge he had developed keeping Bentley alive. The Peace Gummies formula that became an OilWell product was created during midnight experiments while fighting through benzo withdrawal. To ensure quick relief, OilWell also offers the Peace Gummies formula in a vape form, which Colin personally uses to manage his insomnia and severe PTSD. This is not theoretical knowledge. Colin lived what RSO patients live: desperation for relief, failed pharmaceuticals, the discovery that cannabinoids work when pills do not.

Over time, the therapeutic benefits of cannabis that Colin first discovered through his efforts to save Bentley became the core of his work. He has developed formulas that doctors use for conditions like Crohn’s disease, IBS, ulcerative colitis, PTSD, benzo addiction, and insomnia. His focus has always been on making cannabis accessible and effective for everyone, including vegans, diabetics, and those with specific health needs.

ABC13 KTRK Houston — Houston’s number-one news source — featured Colin and OilWell Cannabis in seven comprehensive news segments spanning 2019 to 2023, covering Texas marijuana law, Delta-8 legal analysis, COVID-19 community health leadership, criminal justice reform, and cannabis business pioneering. Colin was repeatedly selected as the primary industry expert for cannabis policy and product coverage in America’s fourth-largest city.

Colin’s quote from the first ABC13 feature in September 2019 captures the OilWell philosophy: “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.”

That same philosophy guides how we approach Newton County. We’re not here to tell you cannabis is magic. We’re here to give you the best possible information so you can make an informed decision for yourself and your family.

Today, OilWell Cannabis operates from Montrose, Houston, Texas (810 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77006). The company has been operating since 2019, generates approximately one million dollars in annual revenue, maintains a near-5.0 Google rating, and is Texas DSHS licensed. All artwork, formulations, and packaging are created in-house in Houston, using only OilWell’s own recipes and ideas. Colin brings Houston grit, McAllen roots, and a builder’s mindset to the company, but the posture stays simple: make products with intent, answer directly, and never pretend cannabis is right for everyone.

We bring that same posture to Newton County. We’re not a faceless corporation. We’re a company built on real stories, real science, and real commitment to helping people — the same values that built Newton County’s tight-knit communities.

The OilWell RSO philosophy

OilWell’s RSO is not traditional Rick Simpson Oil. It is a formulated, multi-cannabinoid product informed by the RSO tradition but departing from it in ways that are deliberate, evidence-motivated, and designed to solve the problems that limited Rick Simpson’s original vision.

Four core principles define OilWell’s approach, each aligning with and evolving Simpson’s original ethos:

1. Accessibility over gatekeeping. No medical card is required. Anyone age twenty-one or older can purchase. OilWell ships nationwide across the United States and internationally to customers who verify local legality. Simpson believed medicine should be accessible to everyone; OilWell built a product and distribution model that makes that accessible legally.

   For Newton County: This means no more driving to Michigan or Illinois, no more hoping a friend can bring something back across state lines, no more navigating complicated medical cannabis programs that don’t serve rural residents. If you’re 21 or older in Kentland, Lake Village, Brook, or anywhere else in Newton County, you can legally access our products.

2. Patient-controlled potency. THCa is sold in its acidic, non-psychoactive form. The customer decides whether to use it raw for non-psychoactive benefits or to decarboxylate it into delta-9 THC for full psychoactive potency. Simpson believed patients should control their own medicine; OilWell engineered a product that puts that control in the customer’s hands through chemistry rather than rhetoric.

   For Newton County: This means you can use our RSO during the day without impairment — keep working, keep driving, keep parenting — and then activate it at night when you want full therapeutic strength. That’s the kind of flexibility that matters when you’re running a farm, working a shift at the plant, or caring for family.

3. Open-source formulas. OilWell publishes their complete formulas publicly — every cannabinoid, every milligram amount, every percentage — so that anyone who cannot afford the product can source ingredients and make their own version. Simpson gave his oil away for free and taught people how to make it; OilWell adapted that ethos for the modern cannabinoid marketplace by selling a professionally manufactured product and publishing the recipe.

   For Newton County: We know budgets are tight. If $129.99 for a month’s supply isn’t feasible, we’d rather you have the recipe and make it yourself than go without or buy something dangerous from the black market. That’s the neighborly thing to do.

4. Evidence-informed, not evidence-overstating. The GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section in this document represents OilWell’s commitment to honest education about what the science actually says. Simpson operated without access to peer-reviewed literature or clinical trial data; OilWell has that access and uses it to distinguish between what is well-supported, what is emerging, and what is overstated.

   For Newton County: We’re not going to tell you RSO cures cancer. We’re going to show you exactly what the research says, what it doesn’t say, and let you make an informed decision. That’s the respect you deserve.

Farm Bill compliance and the THCa legal framework

The 2018 Farm Bill (Agricultural Improvement Act) legalized hemp and hemp-derived products containing less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight at the federal level in the United States. This legal framework is the foundation of OilWell’s RSO product design.

OilWell’s RSO Sublingual Oil contains only 90 milligrams of delta-9 THC in the entire 30 mL bottle — 3 milligrams per milliliter — well under the 0.3 percent threshold. All cannabinoids in the formula are hemp-derived. The product is legal under federal law and in Indiana.

Important for Newton County residents: Indiana law aligns with the Farm Bill. Hemp-derived products with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC are legal to purchase, possess, and use. You don’t need a medical card. You don’t need to drive out of state. You can order legally and have it shipped directly to your home in Kentland, Lake Village, Brook, or anywhere else in the county.

THCa — tetrahydrocannabinolic acid — is the acidic, non-psychoactive precursor to delta-9 THC. It is not itself delta-9 THC. This distinction is legally significant: THCa is Farm Bill compliant at the point of sale because it has not been converted to delta-9 THC.

The practical significance of this framework is substantial. The customer can decarboxylate THCa into delta-9 THC at home by heating the oil at 260°F (125°C) for 45 to 60 minutes in an oven-safe glass container. This converts 1,500 milligrams of THCa into approximately 1,315 milligrams of delta-9 THC. Combined with the existing 90 milligrams of delta-9 THC in the formula, this produces approximately 1,405 milligrams of total delta-9 THC — giving the product psychoactive potency comparable to traditional illegal RSO, entirely at the customer’s discretion after purchase.

This means the same product can function as a non-psychoactive anti-inflammatory (used raw) or as a full-potency psychoactive cannabinoid product (after home decarboxylation). The customer controls the decision. The product is legal everywhere all component cannabinoids are legal, which enables international shipping to jurisdictions where hemp-derived products with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC are permitted.

Important legal notice: THCa converts to delta-9 THC when heated. Customers are responsible for understanding and complying with their local laws regarding cannabinoid products. OilWell ships with full documentation, Certificates of Analysis, and receipts. International customers accept all customs and legal risk.

For Newton County specifically: The Newton County Sheriff’s Department and Kentland Police Department operate under Indiana state law, which follows the Farm Bill. As long as the product contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC at purchase, it’s legal. However, if you decarboxylate it at home, you are converting it to a more potent form for personal use — which is analogous to buying beer (legal) versus distilling spirits at home (regulated differently). We provide the information; you accept the responsibility.

Open-source formulas — why OilWell publishes everything

OilWell publishes their complete RSO formulas — every cannabinoid, every milligram amount, every percentage — in public documents including this one. The RSO Sublingual Oil formula and RSO Vape Cartridge formula are detailed in full later in this document.

The rationale is straightforward: if someone cannot afford OilWell’s products — $129.99 for the sublingual oil, $49.99 for the vape cartridge — they can see exactly what the formula contains, source the individual cannabinoid distillates and isolates, and make their own version. The formulas in the RSO Sublingual Oil and RSO Vape Cartridge sections of this document are the open-source formulas.

This is a direct echo of Rick Simpson’s original ethos. Simpson gave his oil away for free and taught people how to make it. He never patented his method. He never charged patients. OilWell adapted that ethos for the modern cannabinoid marketplace: we sell a professionally manufactured, lab-tested, standardized product for those who want it, and we publish the complete recipe for those who want to make it themselves.

As Colin Valencia said on ABC13 in 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.”

The open-source philosophy did not start with RSO — it started with Bentley. On the About Us page, Colin published the actual CBD golden paste recipe that saved Bentley’s life, so that any pet owner facing a similar crisis could make it themselves:

CBD golden paste recipe for pets — the original open-source formula

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup organic turmeric powder
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (unrefined, organic)
• 1 to 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper (important for absorption)
• CBD oil (dosage depends on the size and needs of the pet; consult with a veterinarian)

Instructions:

1. Mix the turmeric and water. In a saucepan, combine the turmeric powder and water, stirring over low heat. Stir continuously until it forms a thick paste. This should take about 7 to 10 minutes. Add a little more water if it becomes too thick.
2. Add the coconut oil and pepper. Once you have a thick paste, add the coconut oil and freshly ground black pepper. Stir until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
3. Cool and store. Allow the paste to cool, then transfer it to a jar with a lid. Store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
4. Dosage. Add a small amount of CBD oil to the paste before giving it to the pet, adjusting the dosage based on their weight and health needs. Start with a low dose and gradually increase as needed.

Serving suggestion: Mix a small amount of the golden paste with the pet’s food once or twice a day. Monitor the pet for any changes and consult with a veterinarian if there are any concerns. Always consult with a veterinarian before starting any new supplement regimen for a pet.

This recipe — published for free, years before the RSO formulas were open-sourced — demonstrates that the pattern is consistent. Colin gave away the formula that saved Bentley before he gave away the formula designed for people. The open-source ethos is not a marketing strategy. It is the foundational behavior of the company.

For Newton County pet owners: We know your dogs and cats are family. Whether you’re in Lake Village with a hunting dog or in Kentland with a house cat, this recipe is here for you. Use it, share it, adapt it. It’s free.

The decarboxylation choice — patient-controlled potency

Traditional RSO was always fully decarboxylated. The heat of solvent evaporation converted all THCa into delta-9 THC, leaving the patient with no choice about psychoactivity — the oil was always psychoactive.

OilWell’s sublingual formula contains 1,500 milligrams of THCa in its acidic, non-psychoactive form. This creates three distinct usage options for the customer:

Option 1 — Raw, no heat. All 1,500 milligrams stays as THCa — completely non-psychoactive. The THCa evidence profile in the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section describes potential anti-inflammatory activity via COX-2 inhibition and neuroprotective potential via PPARγ agonism [12]. This option is compatible with work, driving, and daytime use with zero psychoactive impairment.

Option 2 — Fully activated, home decarboxylation. Heating the oil at 260°F (125°C) for 45 to 60 minutes in an oven-safe glass container converts 1,500 milligrams of THCa into approximately 1,315 milligrams of delta-9 THC. Combined with the existing 90 milligrams of delta-9 THC already in the formula, this yields approximately 1,405 milligrams of total delta-9 THC. Combined with 6,000 milligrams of delta-8 THC, the activated product achieves psychoactive potency comparable to traditional high-THC RSO — 100 percent legally, because decarboxylation occurs at the customer’s discretion after purchase. The customer may also transfer a controlled portion of the oil from the original bottle into a second empty oven-safe glass container, decarboxylating only what they intend to use and preserving the remainder in its raw THCa form.

Option 3 — Vape, auto-decarboxylation. The RSO Vape Cartridge vaporizes at 400 to 450°F, which instantly converts THCa to delta-9 THC with each inhalation. Every puff delivers freshly decarboxylated cannabinoids. This is the fastest-onset RSO delivery method available.

The conversion chemistry: THCa has a molecular weight of 358.47 g/mol. The conversion ratio is approximately 1 milligram THCa = 0.877 milligrams delta-9 THC after decarboxylation, reflecting the loss of a CO₂ molecule during the reaction.

This design puts the potency decision entirely in the customer’s hands — aligning with Rick Simpson’s principle that patients should control their own medicine, but implementing that principle through actual product chemistry rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

For Newton County residents with jobs that require drug testing: If you work at the Toyota plant in Princeton, drive a truck for a local ag business, or hold any position with zero-tolerance policies, the raw (non-decarboxylated) option means you can use RSO without risk of testing positive. THCa doesn’t trigger standard drug tests. Only after you heat it and convert it to delta-9 THC does it become detectable. That’s control that matters in a place where good jobs are hard to come by and losing one over a drug test is devastating.

Solvent-free production

OilWell’s RSO is not an extraction product in the traditional sense. It is a formulated blend of individual cannabinoid distillates and isolates combined at specific ratios in a controlled production environment. No naphtha. No isopropyl alcohol. No butane. No extraction solvents are present in the finished product.

This approach eliminates the residual solvent risk that is one of the most significant safety concerns with traditional RSO production, as discussed in the Rick Simpson section of this document.

The product uses organic MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides) as the carrier base. MCT oil is a food-grade lipid carrier that facilitates cannabinoid absorption through sublingual tissue and provides a neutral taste profile — a significant improvement over the tar-like consistency and solvent-residual odor of traditional RSO.

Third-party lab testing covers cannabinoid potency, terpene profile, and safety panels including pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbial contaminants. Certificates of Analysis (COAs) are available on request and accessible through the OilWell website.

For Newton County: We know you care about what goes into your body. You read labels on your food, you check the ingredients in your supplements, and you want the same transparency from cannabis products. Every batch we ship comes with lab results you can verify — something no DIY maker or black-market dealer can provide.

The broader OilWell product portfolio

Beyond RSO, OilWell Cannabis produces a range of cannabinoid products, each developed from the formulation knowledge Colin built over Bentley’s ten-year journey and his own experience with PTSD and benzo withdrawal.

Asshole Peach — OilWell’s most popular product. Asshole Peach is a carefully formulated experience designed to provide a euphoric, long-lasting sensation. It is particularly favored by veterans for its ability to relieve pain and PTSD symptoms without being overly aggressive.

Peace Gummies — Developed directly from Colin’s own experience with PTSD and benzodiazepine addiction. Peace Gummies helped him quit Xanax cold turkey. The formula is also available in a vape form for quick relief — Colin personally uses the vape to manage his insomnia and severe PTSD on an ongoing basis.

Custom creations — OilWell offers custom-made products tailored to the specific needs of individual customers. Whether it involves specific cannabinoid ratios, particular delivery formats, or formulations for unique health circumstances, OilWell designs targeted products on request. This includes formulations for vegans, diabetics, and those with specific dietary or health needs.

For Newton County veterans: We know the veteran community is strong here, and we know many of you are dealing with pain and PTSD from your service. The Asshole Peach formula was specifically shaped by veteran feedback. It’s designed to provide relief without the sedation that makes it hard to function. And like everything we do, the exact formula is published — no secrets.

Two product formats

OilWell offers the RSO formula in two delivery formats, each designed for different use cases and pharmacokinetic profiles.

RSO Sublingual Oil — $129.99

• 30 mL bottle (1 fl oz)
• 16,590 mg total cannabinoids (553 mg per mL)
• Seven cannabinoids: CBD 4,500 mg, CBG 3,000 mg, delta-8 THC 6,000 mg, THCa 1,500 mg, delta-9 THC 90 mg, CBN 750 mg, CBC 750 mg
• Live terpenes at 5%: limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, humulene, terpinolene
• Organic MCT oil base
• Graduated dropper for precise dosing in 0.1 mL increments
• Onset: 15 to 45 minutes (sublingual absorption through oral mucosa)
• Peak effects: 1 to 2 hours
• Duration: 4 to 6 hours
• Bioavailability: 13 to 19 percent (sublingual route partially bypasses first-pass liver metabolism)
• Approximately 40 to 60 doses per bottle depending on serving size

RSO Vape Cartridge — $49.99

• 1-gram cartridge
• 900 mg+ total cannabinoids
• Same six-cannabinoid ratio as sublingual formula
• Live terpenes at 5%+
• 510-thread universal battery compatibility
• Onset: 1 to 2 minutes (fastest cannabinoid delivery method)
• Peak effects: 10 to 15 minutes
• Duration: 2 to 4 hours
• Bioavailability: 10 to 35 percent (variable, dependent on inhalation technique)
• Automatic THCa decarboxylation at vaping temperature (400 to 450°F)

Complete RSO Guide — OilWell’s full product guide with science, competitive analysis, protocols, and ordering information.

For Newton County: The sublingual oil is perfect for sustained relief through a long day in the fields or at work. The vape is for breakthrough moments — when the pain spikes suddenly, when anxiety hits hard, when you need relief in two minutes instead of thirty. Both ship directly to your door.

When to use each format

Use case	Recommended format	Rationale
Fast relief (acute pain, nausea, panic)	Vape	1-2 minute onset
Sustained relief (chronic pain, sleep)	Sublingual	4-6 hour duration
Maximum bioavailability	Sublingual	13-19% absorption
Portability and discretion	Vape	Compact, no measuring required
Precise dosing control	Sublingual	Graduated dropper in 0.1 mL increments
Daytime non-psychoactive use	Sublingual (raw, no heat)	THCa stays inactive, zero impairment
Nighttime psychoactive use	Sublingual (decarbed) or Vape	Activated THCa + delta-8 THC

Competitive comparison — OilWell RSO vs. alternatives

The following tables present factual comparisons between OilWell’s RSO formula and other RSO products available on the market. These comparisons are based on publicly available product specifications and are presented for informational context.

OilWell RSO vs. Texas TCUP dispensary RSO (e.g., Texas Original)

Dimension	TCUP dispensary RSO	OilWell RSO
Cannabinoid profile	THC-only (approx. 420 mg THC per 0.5 g syringe)	7 cannabinoids: CBD, CBG, delta-8 THC, THCa, delta-9 THC, CBN, CBC
CBG content	0 mg	3,000 mg
CBN content	0 mg	750 mg
CBC content	0 mg	750 mg
Patient-controlled potency	No — always fully psychoactive	Yes — THCa non-psychoactive until heated by customer
Access requirements	TCUP medical card with qualifying condition	Age 21+ only, no medical card required
Qualifying conditions	Cancer, PTSD, epilepsy, autism, terminal illness, ALS, MS, seizure disorders, incurable neurodegenerative diseases	None required
Delivery	Must travel to physical dispensary location	Ships directly to Newton County, Indiana
Farm Bill compliant	No — state medical cannabis program	Yes — less than 0.3% delta-9 THC

OilWell RSO vs. hemp CBD RSO (e.g., Lazarus Naturals)

Dimension	Lazarus Naturals RSO (10 mL, 1,000 mg)	OilWell RSO (30 mL, 16,590 mg)
Total cannabinoids	1,000 mg	16,590 mg
CBD content	Approximately 950 mg	4,500 mg
CBG content	15.5 mg	3,000 mg
CBN content	0.7 mg	750 mg
Delta-8 THC	0 mg	6,000 mg
THCa (convertible to delta-9 THC)	Minimal	1,500 mg (converts to approximately 1,315 mg delta-9 THC)
Psychoactive option	No meaningful psychoactive effect	Yes — via THCa decarboxylation and delta-8 THC
Approximate price	$40 to $50	$129.99

OilWell RSO vs. traditional illegal RSO — This comparison is presented in the Traditional RSO vs. modern formulated RSO table in the ABOUT RICK SIMPSON section above. Refer to that table for the full eleven-dimension comparison.

For Newton County: When you’re comparing options, ask yourself: Does the product tell you exactly what’s in it? Can you verify it with lab reports? Can you use it without getting high if you need to stay functional? Can you get it without driving to another state? OilWell checks every box that matters for rural Indiana residents.

Condition-specific usage context

Important disclaimer: The following usage contexts are informed by cannabinoid research cited in the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section of this document and by OilWell’s formulation rationale. They are not medical prescriptions, not FDA-approved treatment protocols, and not a substitute for professional medical care. These products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using cannabinoid products, especially if you have a medical condition, are taking medications, are pregnant or nursing, or have any health concerns. Do not operate vehicles or machinery while under the influence of psychoactive cannabinoids.

Chemotherapy-related nausea and appetite support

• Pre-chemo: 0.5 to 1.0 mL sublingual approximately 1 hour before treatment
• Acute breakthrough nausea: 2 to 3 vape puffs for immediate relief (1-2 minute onset)
• Post-chemo: 0.5 mL sublingual every 6 hours as needed
• Sleep support during treatment: 1.0 to 2.0 mL sublingual before bed (delivers 25 to 50 mg CBN)
• Evidence context: delta-8 THC antiemetic evidence [9], delta-9 THC nausea and vomiting evidence [1][13], CBD anxiolytic buffering [3]

For Newton County cancer patients: We know many of you are traveling to IU Health in Indianapolis or even to Chicago for treatment. The vape format can provide immediate relief in the car after a brutal chemo session. The sublingual oil can help with the days-long nausea that follows. And you can use the raw form during the day to stay functional for family obligations.

Chronic pain (fibromyalgia, arthritis, neuropathy)

• Daytime: 0.3 to 0.5 mL raw sublingual — provides anti-inflammatory cannabinoid exposure without psychoactive impairment
• Nighttime: 0.5 to 1.0 mL decarboxylated sublingual — combines pain relief with CBN sleep support
• Breakthrough pain: Vape as needed for rapid onset
• Evidence context: CBD pain evidence [4], delta-9 THC pain evidence [13], beta-caryophyllene CB2 agonism [24], THCa COX-2 inhibition [12]

For Newton County residents with chronic pain: Whether it’s from years of farm work, a factory injury, or a condition like fibromyalgia that the local doctors struggle to treat, this multi-cannabinoid approach addresses pain through multiple pathways — not just masking symptoms but working on inflammation at the source.

Sleep support

• Before bed: 1.0 to 2.0 mL sublingual
• At 2.0 mL, this delivers 50 mg CBN — the dosage level investigated in the 2024 sleep literature
• At 1.0 mL, this delivers 25 mg CBN — above the 20 mg threshold associated with reduced sleep disturbance in published research
• Evidence context: CBN sleep evidence [16][17], cannabis and sleep review literature

For Newton County insomniacs: When the quiet of rural nights is broken by racing thoughts, chronic pain, or PTSD, having a non-addictive sleep option matters. This isn’t Ambien that’ll leave you groggy and potentially addicted. It’s cannabinoids working with your body’s own systems.

Anxiety and stress

• Daytime functional relief: 0.3 mL raw sublingual — CBD and CBG address anxiety-related pathways without psychoactive impairment
• Nighttime: 1.0 mL sublingual — full cannabinoid profile including CBN for sleep architecture
• Evidence context: CBD anxiety evidence [3], CBG pharmacology [7][8], limonene entourage-effect evidence [20]

For Newton County residents dealing with stress: Whether it’s financial pressure from a tough crop year, worry about a family member’s health, or the accumulated stress of living in uncertain times, having a daytime option that doesn’t impair you is crucial. You can take it and still operate your equipment, still drive safely, still show up for work.

General titration principle: Start low, go slow. Begin with 0.25 to 0.5 mL sublingual and assess effects over 2 to 3 hours before increasing. Individual responses vary based on body weight, metabolism, tolerance, concurrent medications, and other factors.

Delivery and global accessibility

OilWell operates the only same-day RSO delivery system in Houston. While we can’t offer same-day delivery to Newton County (that’s a 1,000-mile drive), we can offer something just as important: reliable, legal, discreet shipping directly to your door in Kentland, Lake Village, Brook, Goodland, or anywhere else in the county.

Nationwide shipping to Newton County, Indiana

• All 50 states where Farm Bill-compliant products are legal — Indiana qualifies
• USPS Priority Mail (2 to 3 business days), FedEx and UPS Ground (3 to 5 business days)
• Discreet packaging with no cannabis branding visible — your mail carrier won’t know
• Tracking provided for all orders
• Temperature-stable packaging for summer shipments — important when shipping to Indiana in July
• Signature-required option available

International shipping

OilWell ships internationally and has already delivered to multiple countries across multiple continents. The THCa legal framework makes this possible: because the product contains less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC at the point of sale, it meets the definition of a hemp-derived product under the 2018 Farm Bill and is shippable to jurisdictions with compatible hemp laws.

• All international packages include full documentation, Certificates of Analysis (COAs), and receipts for customs purposes
• Minimum flat-fee shipping applies; excessive international shipping costs are billed to the customer
• The customer is responsible for verifying legality in their jurisdiction and accepts all customs and legal risk
• Contact: (832) 416-2816 or [email protected]

The significance of international access cannot be overstated. Rick Simpson could not ship his oil anywhere — it was Schedule I, illegal to produce, possess, or transport. A cancer patient in Germany, a chronic pain patient in Australia, or a veteran in the United Kingdom can now potentially access the same clinical-strength multi-cannabinoid RSO formula that a Houston resident receives via same-day delivery. OilWell built a product that can move across borders legally — completing a piece of Rick Simpson’s vision that prohibition made impossible during his lifetime of advocacy.

OilWell’s PANDEM1C SEO technology — a proprietary system with 14 million distinct geopolitical locations in its database and over 300 AI models — drives organic search visibility across six continents, making OilWell products discoverable to international patients searching for RSO in their own language.

For Newton County: You don’t need to know about international shipping. You just need to know that we can get our products to your doorstep in 2-3 business days, legally and discreetly. Place your order on Monday, and by Thursday you’re holding lab-tested, precisely formulated medicine — not some mystery oil from who-knows-where.

How the OilWell formulas connect to the evidence in this document

Every cannabinoid in OilWell’s formula — CBD, CBG, delta-8 THC, THCa, delta-9 THC, CBN, and CBC — has its own evidence profile in the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section of this document. Every terpene in OilWell’s formula — limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, humulene, and terpinolene — is covered with preclinical and review-level evidence.

The formulas published later in this document are not standalone product listings. They are anchored to per-compound evidence summaries that explain what is well-supported by human clinical data, what is emerging from review and preclinical literature, and what is overstated relative to the current evidence base. Where OilWell’s RSO guide page makes specific research claims about individual cannabinoids or terpenes, this document provides the source evaluation context — the same peer-reviewed citations, the same evidence-tier assessments, and the same cautious interpretation framework.

The GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section’s evidence hierarchy, overstatement warnings, and safety notes apply equally to OilWell’s own products. This document does not exempt OilWell from the same evidence standards applied to the broader cannabinoid field. That is intentional. OilWell’s position — as stated by Colin Valencia in 2019 — is that people deserve the best possible version of the information so they can give it a fair shot and decide for themselves whether it is right or wrong for them. This document is the research foundation for that position.

OilWell Cannabis is more than a brand — it is a promise to our customers that we will always strive to deliver the best, most thoughtful cannabis products available. We are not here to follow trends. We are here to set them. And as the company continues to grow, the focus remains on maintaining the same level of integrity, creativity, and commitment that has defined it from the day Bentley got up, walked across the room, and brought his ball to play.

For Newton County: We’re not a big corporation. We’re a company built on a dog, a conviction, and a commitment to never sell snake oil. That’s the kind of business we think you’ll understand and respect.

MEDIA RECOGNITION AND COMMUNITY IMPACT

Colin Valencia — Houston’s go-to cannabis authority

Between September 2019 and April 2023, ABC13 Houston (KTRK) — the ABC affiliate serving the fourth-largest city in the United States — featured Colin Valencia and OilWell Cannabis in seven distinct news segments spanning business, law, medicine, community health, and politics. Five different ABC13 reporters sought Colin out across those years: Tom Abrahams, Steve Campion, Shelley Childers, Nick Natario, and KTRK staff writers. No other Houston cannabis operator appears with that frequency or across that breadth of subject matter during the same period.

Why this matters for Newton County: Houston is America’s fourth-largest city. When their number-one news source repeatedly chooses one person as their expert, that’s credibility you can’t buy. That’s the kind of validation that matters when you’re deciding who to trust with your health from 1,000 miles away.

The features document a consistent pattern. When ABC13 needed to explain a new cannabis product to its audience, it called Colin. When a state agency reversed course on Delta-8 legality overnight, it called Colin. When a sitting president announced marijuana pardons and the station needed someone who had personally lived with a cannabis conviction to put it in context, it called Colin. When the station wanted to tell the story of a growing industry on 4/20, it was Colin’s hemp field and Colin’s voice that anchored the report.

What follows is a complete, chronological record of each feature — every quote preserved exactly as published, every contextual detail documented, every connection to the broader OilWell story and mission noted, and the full article content from each ABC13 report preserved for reference.

Feature: Texas CBD businesses booming as industry continues to evolve — September 15, 2019

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
Headline: “Texas CBD businesses booming as industry continues to evolve”
Reporter: Tom Abrahams
Published: Sunday, September 15, 2019
Tags: Health & Fitness, Houston, Marijuana, U.S. & World, Texas News, Business
YouTube Clip: OilWell CBD Oil Houston ABC News KTRK Interview Clipped (54 seconds)

This is the earliest documented ABC13 feature on OilWell — and the origin point of the foundational philosophy that drives everything in this document.

Full article content

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — You can spot the signs in almost any neighborhood. CBD has turned into a booming business over the past few months, with entrepreneurs pitching the product for every member of the family, even the pets.

Amanda Field owns Republic Aerial Yoga on Houston Avenue in downtown. Her clients visit her studio for their health, to educate themselves, and to lessen their aches and pains.

“I’ve had people tell me that they’ve come to two classes and their back pain is gone.”
— Amanda Field, Republic Aerial Yoga owner

But for Field, it’s not just about yoga. Many of her clients combine the exercise with cannabidiol, a hemp-based product better known as CBD.

“It partners so well with yoga.”
— Amanda Field

Krystal Burns is one of those clients. She said she injured her back in an accident and had surgery. She said she was in constant pain and said doctors wanted to prescribe her opioids. Burns refused, and after learning about CBD from Field, she says she’s now a believer.

“I wouldn’t be able to function without it. It easily relaxes my muscles, it helps me sleep. I don’t have to worry about addiction.”
— Krystal Burns, CBD user and yoga client

Jim Bagley is another believer. He owns Linear Salon in the Heights. He says he and his wife use CBD and sell it in their shop.

“I was having trouble sleeping, restless in the mid-morning probably. I truly feel that there is benefits to it. I hope it’s not a trend. I think that the benefits I’ve received personally, hopefully I’ll be able to get my clients to enjoy the same benefits I’ve received.”
— Jim Bagley, Linear Salon owner

CBD use was in a legal, gray area in Texas until House Bill 1325, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law in June. The bill changed the legal definition of marijuana and hemp production in Texas. As a result, CBD as a business is booming. The product, however, cannot have .3 percent of THC, the chemical that makes you high.

That past summer, four local district attorneys announced they would not file criminal cases involving marijuana or cannabis unless testing proved the THC concentration was higher than .3 percent.

Dorral Marsenburg sells his Booman cannabis in a smokable form and says the industry is in its infancy in Texas.

“In a typical week, I’ll go through a half a pound selling grams. I say two years from now, it’ll be a multi-billion dollar operation. I honestly believe that because it’s 100 percent legal, and besides the THC, it’s healthy for you also.”
— Dorral Marsenburg, Booman cannabis

Colin Valencia, who runs OilWell CBD, a local wholesaler, says it’s an evolving industry.

“It’s a lot of educating people, but not over-promising people. 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.”
— Colin Valencia, OilWell CBD

The FDA is still examining the actual health benefits and ways to regulate the content of cannabis products. In May, it held its first ever CBD hearings and states it is committed to sound, science-based policy.

Related: New hemp law means no criminal charges for some pot possession cases, Harris County DA says | CBD Oil: What you need to know

Video Description: “CBD TAKEOVER: The industry continues to grow with entrepreneurs pitching the product for every member of the family, including pets!”

Analysis

That Colin quote — from 2019, years before the formulas in this document were published — is the seed of everything OilWell would become. The open-source formula publication, the evidence-based research documentation, the refusal to make unsupported claims: it all traces back to this principle. The video segment’s description noting CBD was being pitched “for every member of the family, including pets” is an early indicator of the broad-spectrum consumer education approach Colin would continue to build. A clipped version of Colin’s interview from this broadcast was separately uploaded to YouTube as a standalone demonstration of OilWell’s media presence on a major network affiliate.

Feature: Entrepreneur creates direct-to-consumer business ahead of marijuana decriminalization efforts — March 22, 2021

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
Headline: “Entrepreneur creates direct-to-consumer business ahead of marijuana decriminalization efforts”
Reporter: Tom Abrahams
Published: Monday, March 22, 2021
Tags: Texas, Marijuana, Laws, Senate, Cannabis Watch

Full article content

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The proof is evident that decriminalizing cannabis doesn’t increase crime rates, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. It’s a basis as to why there is a renewed push to decriminalize cannabis at the national level.

One entrepreneur is already coming up with a unique way to get cannabis directly to the customer.

It’s not a taco truck. In fact, Jonathan Pina’s concept for High Maintenance Edibles is not like any other mobile vendor you’ve likely seen.

“We partner with private companies, bars restaurants, parking lot owners and we show up at places around Houston and provide our products.”
— Jonathan Pina, High Maintenance Edibles

His concept got a lift from Oil Well. A company that specializes in hemp based products legal in Texas and run by owner Colin Valencia. He said the tide is turning and more and more people accept legitimate uses for cannabis based products. The stigma is slowly disappearing.

“People think that everyone just wants to get high and it’s about giggling and things like that, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But that’s a different version of therapy, and people are looking for things to help them with real pain. Pain comes in a lot of different forms.”
— OilWell CBD’s Colin Valencia

It’s getting a step closer to both decriminalization and legalization. While Texas may be far from legal recreational use, Congress may make its own move.

This week, Schumer and Senators Corey Booker of New Jersey and Ron Wyden of Oregon announced forthcoming legislation on Capitol Hill.

“When states decriminalized or legalized, all the horrible stories that people said crime rates would go up, people’s drug use would go up, never materialized.”
— Senator Chuck Schumer

The three of them cited the failed war on drugs, that veterans and people of color are disproportionately punished for use with excessive fines or jail time. There are already 15 states that have passed ballot measures or have laws allowing recreational use.

“If people want to use it and it doesn’t do harm, just like Oregon showed, let them do it.”
— Senator Chuck Schumer

For those in the business and on its forefront in Texas, entrepreneurs like Pina believe it’s long overdue. But in Austin, they are not there yet. Despite loosening restrictions and a spate of bills this session, full legalization is not as likely as it might be in Washington.

Related: Texas lawmakers hope to expand medical marijuana programs this legislative session | Texas’ medical marijuana program is one of the most restrictive in the country

Video Description: Decriminalizing cannabis doesn’t increase crime rates, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. He said there’s a renewed push to decriminalize marijuana at the national level, but how will this impact Texas?

Analysis

Tom Abrahams returned to OilWell for this feature, establishing Colin’s role not just as a business operator but as an ecosystem builder who helped other entrepreneurs like Jonathan Pina enter the legal cannabis space. Colin’s therapy quote — “pain comes in a lot of different forms” — went deeper than any prior interview into the therapeutic dimension, and the national decriminalization context (Schumer, Booker, Wyden) positioned OilWell at the intersection of Texas innovation and federal momentum.

Feature: What is Delta 8 THC and why is it considered legal weed in Texas — May 24, 2021

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
Headline: “What is Delta 8 THC and why is it considered ‘legal weed’ in Texas?”
Reporter: Steve Campion
Published: Monday, May 24, 2021
Tags: Society, Texas, Marijuana, Texas News, Smoking, Doctors, Illegal Drugs, Drugs
Note: Features 4 and 8 in the original URL list share this same URL — this is one article.

Full article content

A lush green plant is creating buzz in Texas as the cannabis industry is booming, despite federal and state law banning marijuana.

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp plants, which contain extremely low concentrations of the psychoactive compound Delta 9 THC. That’s the THC typically found in pot which gives users a high. Entrepreneurs are now extracting any compound they want from the hemp plants and have narrowed in on Delta 8 THC. They’re making products including edibles, tinctures, and smokables with it. Delta 8 THC isn’t as strong as Delta 9 THC.

You’ll likely spot the Delta 8 products in stores around the Greater Houston like at HydroShack Hydroponics on West 20th Street in The Heights which sells Oilwell Cannabis products.

“Demand is like this,” . “People are grateful that we’re here and selling it. Very grateful. That’s the feeling I get.”
— Chris Powers, owner of HydroShack Hydroponics

Colin Valencia with Oilwell said the products offer therapeutic benefits at affordable prices. Valencia remained unabashed by his enthusiasm for them. He offered a pretty blunt explanation about how some might use Delta 8.

Steve Campion (ABC13): “Why would someone want to smoke that?”

Colin Valencia: “I don’t give a sh** if it’s wrong to say you’ll get high off it. Maybe you want to get high.”

“Delta 8 hasn’t been looked at, so we just don’t know. We’re gathering data now, so the more people who use, the more information we’ll have. You probably don’t want to be a guinea pig just yet. We know Delta 9 THC is habit forming. Delta 8 THC is likely to have that property as well. If you’re using it, you may find it’s harder to stop than you thought.”
— Dr. Michael Weaver, UTHealth/UT Physicians addictions specialist

ABC13 then asked him if he would advise anyone to take it.

“I think there is not enough information to say it’s good to try. The safest thing I can say is we don’t know enough about it to make a recommendation. Don’t try it until we know more.”
— Dr. Michael Weaver

Experts said using Delta 8 THC will likely lead to failed drug tests for employees.

Heather Fazio with Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy told ABC13 some lawmakers already want to ban Delta 8 products in the state. She said the conversation should be on regulation, not prohibition.

“We’re seeing the market become innovative. Entrepreneurs getting creative with the ways they can abide by the law and still provide their customers with the product they would like. What we’re looking at here is simply the result of supply and demand. We know there is a demand for cannabis products in the state of Texas. Unfortunately, our state continues to deprive legitimate business owners of the opportunity to sell these products in a regulated way, products that are tested that are labeled appropriately.”
— Heather Fazio, Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy

DEA Statement:

Delta 8 THC was added to the controlled substances list in August 2020 on an interim basis while pending final disposition. As DEA is currently undergoing the rulemaking process regarding the implementation of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 – which includes the scope of regulatory controls over marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinols, and other marijuana-related constituents – we would be unable to comment on an any impact in legality of tetrahydrocannabinols, Delta 8 included, until the process is complete. We are in the process of reviewing thousands of comments and do not speculate on what could happen as a result.

Related: Texas’ medical cannabis program could expand under bill OK’d by House

Video Description: This lush green plant is creating buzz in Texas. ABC13 reporter Steve Campion investigated what it is, its effects on the body and whether or not it is legal in Texas.

Analysis

This investigative feature by Steve Campion became one of the most widely referenced ABC13 cannabis segments. The exchange between Campion and Colin — “Maybe you want to get high” — became one of Colin’s most iconic media moments: radical honesty on mainstream television with the expletive preserved by the network. The piece balanced Colin’s unapologetic stance with Dr. Weaver’s medical caution and Heather Fazio’s regulatory advocacy, and the full DEA statement documented the federal ambiguity that allowed the market to exist. This article was cross-referenced by ABC13 in multiple subsequent features and served as the foundational explainer that later Delta-8 coverage built upon.

Feature: Houston CBD shop giving away free products to those who get COVID vaccine — August 20, 2021

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
Headline: “Houston CBD shop giving away free products to those who get COVID vaccine”
Reporter: KTRK Staff
Published: Friday, August 20, 2021
Tags: Health & Fitness, Houston, COVID 19 Vaccine, Marijuana, Cannabis Watch, Vaccines, Coronavirus Pandemic, COVID 19 Pandemic, Pandemic, Texas News, Health Care

Full article content

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A Houston CBD shop is offering a unique incentive to get people vaccinated.

According to an Instagram post published on Wednesday, OilWell CBD, which specializes in hemp-derived CBD and THC products, said it wants to give away 1,000 pieces of product to those who get vaccinated after Aug. 18.

The company is offering to give away 1,000 special edition caviar pre-rolls, which according to its website, is a THC-infused product coated with oils and hash kief, a more refined form of cannabis. OilWell sells these items for $34.99, according to its website.

The company said you must provide proof of vaccination along with a photo ID.

The giveaway will take place starting Monday at noon at HydroShack Hydroponics on West 20th Street in The Heights, which sells OilWell products.

“We just want Houston to be as healthy as possible. We’re not doctors. We’re not experts on this . We don’t have any political agenda. Come and participate if it’s right and safe for you and your loved ones!”
— OilWell Instagram post

The company later posted another Instagram post saying it’s been in contact with the city of Houston to help more people get vaccinated.

“[We’re] trying to get the city behind me to help as many people as we can. I really want to help things.”
— OilWell follow-up Instagram post

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp plants, which contain extremely low concentrations of the psychoactive compound Delta-9 THC. That’s the THC typically found in marijuana that gives users a high. Entrepreneurs are now extracting any compound they want from the hemp plants and have narrowed in on Delta-8 THC. Companies like OilWell are now making products such as edibles, tinctures, and smokables.

Note: The video above is from an ABC13 report published on May 24 in which we spoke with OilWell CBD about Delta-8 THC products and why it’s considered “legal weed” in Texas.

Video Description: This lush green plant is creating buzz in Texas. ABC13 reporter Steve Campion investigated what it is, its effects on the body and whether or not it is legal in Texas.

Analysis

This feature documented OilWell’s most significant community health initiative — approximately $35,000 in product (1,000 caviar pre-rolls at $34.99 each) donated to encourage COVID-19 vaccination. The pre-rolls were a collaboration product: The Game x OilWell Cannabis Delta 8 Caviar Comet Rock Pre-Rolls. The giveaway was hosted at the same HydroShack Hydroponics retail partner featured in the Delta-8 segment months earlier. OilWell’s coordination with the city of Houston to amplify the vaccination effort demonstrated that the company’s community orientation was not hypothetical — when a public health crisis required action, the company committed real product and real coordination with city government, with no political strings attached.

Feature: Texas ban over once legal hemp product Delta 8 raises questions over legality — October 19, 2021

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
Headline: “Texas’ ban over once legal hemp product, Delta 8, raises questions over legality”
Reporter: Shelley Childers
Published: Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Tags: Politics, Houston, Marijuana, Texas News, Texas Politics, Illegal Drugs

Full article content

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Inside the Oil Well dispensary in southwest Houston, owner Colin Valencia said he has removed all of his Delta 8 products.

“It’s going to be a surprise to a lot of people.”
— Colin Valencia

It’s a surprise because when ABC13 met Valencia earlier this year, Delta 8 products were his best sellers.

“It was a prime seller and a prime interest of customers, and they really enjoyed the benefits of it.”
— Colin Valencia

Delta 8 is a cannabinoid sold as edibles, tinctures, pills, topical ointment, you can smoke it and vape it. Most CBD dispensaries and vape stores sell it.

“We’ve heard of vets with PTSD who use these products for things like anxiety, dealing with stress and emotions. There’s also people who use these products for sleep regulation. Our association recently, during the state session, actually estimated that the Delta 8 market is around about $50 million in Texas.”
— Zachary Maxwell, Texas Hemp Growers

Delta 8 is derived from hemp cannabis. It took off after the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp production federally. It is a THC product and, up until last week, it was never explicitly listed on the state’s controlled substance list.

“A lot of the industry has been operating under the assumption that Delta 8 is legal or that it exists inside of this gray area, and unfortunately, as we are learning, this is not the case. These products have in fact been illegal since the beginning of this year.”
— Zachary Maxwell

On Oct. 15 the Texas Department of State Health Services posted an update on their Consumable Hemp Program page saying in part, “All other forms of THC, including Delta 8 in any concentration and Delta 9 exceeding 0.3%, are considered Schedule I controlled substances.”

“And if you’re caught with as much as a Delta 8 vape cartridge or even a package of gummies, you could be looking at a felony offense punishable up to two years in prison and a fine up as much as $10,000.”
— Zachary Maxwell

He says the state made no other formal notification to the more than 2,000 licensed CBD operators including Valencia, who has been trying to spread the word himself.

“So those people are now, because they didn’t know, shipping Schedule 1 narcotics, and people are receiving it.”
— Colin Valencia

ABC13 reached out to Texas DPS to find out if and how the state will enforce this-known ban. They were still awaiting a response.

ABC13 spoke with the Texas DSHS to ask about the updated verbiage on Delta 8. A spokesperson says Delta 8 has always been illegal because it is a THC cannabinoid. She could not speak to how the Delta 8 market was allowed to publicly blossom and thrive while being considered illegal. She told ABC13 that the hemp industry asked DSHS for clarification on its legality which prompted the announcement last Friday.

While both men worry for the small businesses who rely on Delta 8 products for the majority of sales, they remain optimistic about the future of cannabis in Texas.

“It’s disappointing, but I’m not going to lose my customers and business are going to want our expertise on how to continue thriving in the industry.”
— Colin Valencia

Video Description: A cannabis businessman says Texas’ recent move on making hemp products illegal is “dangerous.”

Analysis

This feature captures a defining moment in OilWell’s story. Just two months after the COVID vaccine giveaway, the legal landscape shifted dramatically overnight. Shelley Childers went directly to the OilWell dispensary and found that Colin had already removed all Delta-8 products from his shelves — proactively, before enforcement began, and before most of the industry even knew the change had happened. Colin had been trying to spread the word himself to other operators who were unknowingly shipping what had overnight become Schedule I narcotics. Zachary Maxwell’s context — veterans with PTSD, the $50 million Texas market, felony penalties for a single vape cartridge — made the stakes viscerally clear. Texas DSHS told ABC13 that Delta-8 “has always been illegal” but could not explain how the market had been “allowed to publicly blossom and thrive while being considered illegal.” The willingness to absorb a major revenue loss, act ethically ahead of enforcement, and position the company as an expert guide for an industry in crisis rather than a victim of regulation — that is OilWell’s character.

Feature: Biden marijuana pardon — experts weigh in on why Texas won’t see impact — October 7, 2022

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
Headline: “Experts weigh in on why Texas won’t see impact in accordance with Biden’s pardon announcement”
Reporter: Nick Natario
Published: Friday, October 7, 2022
Tags: Politics, Houston, Marijuana, Medical Marijuana, Legal, Pardon, Texas, Greg Abbott, Beto O’Rourke

Full article content

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — President Joe Biden is planning to pardon thousands of Americans convicted of simple possession of marijuana, but Texas will not see much of an impact.

The owners of Oilwell Cannabis are preparing to debut their latest idea: A vending machine that will be filled with legal cannabidiol, or CBD, products.

The shop owner, Collin Valencia, has previously faced charges for marijuana possession.

“You face challenges with housing, loans, and banking, I mean with about everything.”
— Colin Valencia

Soon, select others won’t face those challenges after the president’s announcement.

“I would love to see people not get hurt for this anymore.”
— Colin Valencia

The pardon doesn’t impact Valencia. As legal expert Steve Shellist explains, this will only apply to certain federal convictions.

“If someone is currently stripped of rights via a state prosecution or a state conviction, they’re going to get no relief from this.”
— Steve Shellist, legal expert

He said a pardon allows people to carry a gun or avoid deportation.

“It reinstates rights that were stripped away, but it does not remove it from their record.”
— Steve Shellist

The pardon applies to about 6,500 people. Experts at Rice University said that there were 300,000 marijuana-related arrests at the state level last year. President Biden urged governors to do the same with state charges.

A spokesperson for Governor Greg Abbott sent ABC13 a statement that read:

“Texas is not in the habit of taking criminal justice advice from the leader of the defund police party and someone who has overseen a criminal justice system run amuck with cashless bail and a revolving door for violent criminals.”
— Governor Greg Abbott’s spokesperson

On social media, Abbott’s opponent Beto O’Rourke said, “When I’m governor, we will finally legalize marijuana in Texas and expunge the records of those arrested for marijuana possession.”

“Governors do not have the power to pass legislation unilaterally. It has to go through the Texas Legislature, and the Texas legislature for at least the next two or four years is going to have a Republican majority.”
— Mark Jones, Rice University political science professor

Don’t expect to see marijuana legalization in the upcoming session. However, it doesn’t mean the matter won’t be discussed.

“The most we’ll see in 2023 is decriminalizing marijuana and medical marijuana. We’re not going to see legalization. That’s for sure.”
— Mark Jones

Related: Biden pardons thousands convicted for ‘simple possession’ of marijuana

Video Description: There were 300,000 marijuana-related arrests last year in the state of Texas, but the pardon applies to about 6,500 people, a legal expert explained.

Analysis

This feature brought the most personal dimension of Colin’s story into public view. The article opened with the OilWell CBD vending machine debut — a retail innovation extending product accessibility beyond traditional dispensary hours — and then revealed that Colin has previously faced charges for marijuana possession. That personal history transforms the entire media record. Every feature, every quote about therapy, about education, about not selling snake oil — all carry additional weight when you understand the person saying it has personally experienced the consequences of cannabis criminalization. The political context (300,000 state arrests vs. 6,500 pardons, Abbott vs. O’Rourke, Mark Jones’s analysis) captured the gap between federal gestures and Texas reality. Colin is not an outside entrepreneur who saw a business opportunity. He is someone who lived the consequences and built a legal business to prove the industry could operate with integrity, transparency, and community benefit.

For Newton County: We know many of you have lived this too. Maybe you’ve faced charges, maybe a family member has, maybe you’ve just lived with the fear. Colin’s story is your story. And his mission is to make sure fewer people have to face those consequences going forward.

Feature: Marijuana industry getting creative as Texas laws continue to change — April 21, 2023

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
Headline: “‘I want it to be legalized’: Marijuana industry getting creative as Texas laws continue to change”
Reporter: Nick Natario
Published: Friday, April 21, 2023
Tags: Health & Fitness, Texas, Marijuana, Medical Marijuana, Texas News, Texas Politics

Full article content

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — On April 20, some Texas lawmakers and those in the marijuana industry are celebrating as changes could be coming with the drug.

The cannabis industry has changed in Texas, and new laws have allowed those in the industry to get creative.

“I want it to be legalized. I’m just saying that’s a very hyped conversation. If you really look at what’s here now, there’s nothing you could show me that I could accomplish with what literally we have right now.”
— Oilwell Cannabis owner Colin Valencia

Valencia grows something that looks like marijuana, but he says it’s not illegal. It’s hemp — a product the state allows and one that gives him the ability to create all kinds of products.

“Right now is actually a pretty – like Renaissance – pretty important time that should be enjoyed now.”
— Colin Valencia

As far as legal marijuana, it’s still restrictive in Texas. To use it, marijuana needs to be prescribed. There are currently around 50,000 Texans registered, but experts say only about 10,000 actively use medical marijuana.

“By comparison to Florida, which is two-thirds the size of Texas, they have 20 million people, and we have 30 million people, and they have 700,000 patients.”
— Nico Richardson, Texas Original CEO

But that number could change soon. Texas lawmakers are considering a bill (HB1805) to expand who could gain access.

“Would rather dramatically increase the size of the CUP. The largest constituency of patients not being treated with medical cannabis today is chronic pain.”
— Nico Richardson

The bill passed the House and is heading to the Senate. It would also change how the drug is dosed to line up with other medical treatments.

“If you were to treat a headache with 400 millig