Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) in Plumas County: The Complete Guide by OilWell Cannabis
Plumas County is a place where self-reliance isn’t just a value—it’s a way of life. Whether you’re tending to property in Graeagle, working the land in Indian Valley, or caring for family in Quincy, you know that when conventional solutions fall short, you have to find your own path forward. That’s exactly how Rick Simpson Oil was born, and it’s why we at OilWell Cannabis have spent the last five years building something that honors that spirit while bringing it into the modern era.
If you’re reading this from your home near Lake Almanor or perhaps researching options for a loved one in Portola, you’re probably looking for honest answers about RSO: what it actually is, whether it can help with chronic pain, cancer support, sleep, or PTSD, and most importantly—how to access it legally and safely here in California’s most remote county. This guide was written specifically for Plumas County residents, addressing our unique challenges: limited local dispensary access, the need for discreet delivery options for those in tight-knit communities, and the reality that many of us drive hours for medical care that urban residents take for granted.
We’ve shipped our products to every corner of California, from Los Angeles to Modoc County, and we’ve learned that Plumas County residents ask the smartest, most skeptical questions. You want the science, not the hype. You want the formulas, not the mystery. You want to know exactly what you’re putting in your body, because out here, nobody’s coming to save you if something goes wrong. We respect that deeply. We’ll give you everything: every cannabinoid amount, every terpene, every citation, every media fact-check, and every option—including how to make it yourself if you need to.
Who is Rick Simpson, and Why Does He Matter to Plumas County?
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 fundamental story resonates across Plumas County, where many of us have watched friends and family cycle through specialists in Chico or Reno, only to come home with prescriptions that create more problems than they solve.
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. That moment—being told “no” by a doctor when you’re in desperate pain—is something veterans in Greenville know, something chronic pain patients in Chester understand, and something every family caregiver in Taylorsville has felt.
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 1974 study is a piece of history that keeps resurfacing in Plumas County cannabis discussions, often quoted around campfires or in online forums, but rarely with the full context that it never led to human 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. For Plumas County residents who’ve heard stories of cannabis oil helping with skin conditions, this is where those stories began—but also where the scientific record stops and personal experience begins.
The Crusade—Spreading the Oil Across Borders and Communities
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 that resonates in rural California, where community mutual aid isn’t a slogan—it’s how we survive wildfire season, how we support each other’s livestock, how we show up for neighbors during medical crises.
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. In remote areas like Plumas County, where internet access has historically been spotty, this documentary spread through word-of-mouth and DVD sharing, creating a underground knowledge network that still influences how people think about cannabis today.
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. That pattern—raids, prosecutions, and exile—is part of cannabis history in California too, even after Proposition 64. The legacy of criminalization still affects patients in Plumas County who worry about workplace drug testing, child custody issues, or being judged by their community for using cannabis.
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. In Plumas County, where pharmaceutical access is limited and many residents have been priced out of conventional healthcare, that distrust of institutions isn’t paranoia—it’s lived experience.
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. For Plumas County residents researching RSO, this is the protocol they find online—the one that promises a complete course in three months. Here’s what it actually entails:
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. That’s roughly 667 mg of oil per day—a massive amount that would cost thousands of dollars if purchased from a dispensary in Susanville or Chico.
Titration Schedule
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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. This is crucial for Plumas County residents who may have no THC tolerance—starting this small prevents overwhelming psychoactive effects that could interfere with daily responsibilities.
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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. For someone working in Portola’s timber industry or managing a ranch in Sierra Valley, this dosing schedule would be nearly impossible to maintain while staying functional.
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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.
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. This is relevant for Plumas County residents who spend long hours outdoors—skin health is a real concern at our elevation.
- 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. For Plumas County residents who need to drive Highway 70 or operate equipment, this tolerance development is critical—early doses must be taken at night.
- 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.
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. In Plumas County, where many families hunt, fish, and grow their own food, this aligns with existing lifestyle patterns.
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:
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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. The Plumas County residents we serve deserve to know that no oncologist at Eastern Plumas Health Care or Feather River Hospital would endorse a treatment plan without this level of evidence.
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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. For Plumas County residents who might try to make their own RSO from locally grown material, this variability is a serious safety issue—we’ve seen batches from DIY producers in rural California that tested at over 90% THC, far beyond what most patients can tolerate.
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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. A Plumas County resident taking 600 mg of THC daily would be unable to function in any normal capacity.
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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]. We’ve spoken to Plumas County veterans who’ve experienced panic attacks from doses as low as 50 mg—900 mg would be devastating.
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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. The Plumas County cancer patients we serve deserve to know that Simpson’s protocol has never been validated against surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
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. Understanding what it actually was helps Plumas County residents evaluate what’s being sold locally.
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. In Plumas County, where cannabis cultivation happens in remote grows under variable conditions, this variability would make consistent dosing impossible.
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. For Plumas County residents considering DIY extraction in home kitchens or garages, this is especially dangerous—naphtha fumes can ignite, and residual solvents pose serious health risks.
Extraction Process
- Dry or semi-dry cannabis plant material was placed in a container (typically a bucket).
- The material was covered with solvent and agitated or stirred for several minutes to dissolve cannabinoids and other fat-soluble compounds from the plant.
- The solvent was poured off through a filter, typically cheesecloth or a similar mesh material, into a separate collection vessel.
- The process was repeated a second time with fresh solvent on the same plant material to extract remaining cannabinoids.
- The combined solvent washes—now a dark, cannabinoid-rich liquid—were placed in a rice cooker or similar open-vessel heating device.
- 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.
- As the solvent evaporated, a thick, dark oil remained at the bottom of the vessel.
- The final oil was transferred into oral syringes for storage and dosing.
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. For Plumas County residents used to the clean, golden appearance of modern dispensary oils, this tar-like substance would be unrecognizable.
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. For Plumas County residents who’ve come to appreciate terpene profiles in dispensary products, this absence is a major limitation.
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. In Plumas County, where we have no local cannabis testing labs, this lack of verification is a critical safety gap.
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 mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons 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 extraction methods use food-grade ethanol or supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) specifically to address this problem. For Plumas County residents living in areas prone to wildfire, the fire risk from naphtha fumes in home extraction setups is an additional, serious hazard.
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. The Plumas County residents we speak to often assume RSO has FDA approval or clinical validation—Simpson had none of that.
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. For Plumas County residents whose loved ones are receiving treatment at Enloe Medical Center or Renown Regional, this research is being discussed in oncology labs, but it hasn’t reached the bedside yet.
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-related indications in 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. In Plumas County, where cannabis prohibition left generations without access to this research, Simpson’s stubborn insistence that the plant had untapped potential opened doors that are only now being walked through legally.
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. For Plumas County residents traveling to Chico or Reno for oncology appointments, we cannot stress this enough: RSO should never replace these proven treatments. It may complement them, but only under medical supervision.
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:
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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].
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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].
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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].
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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). This reflects the broader cannabinoid research landscape rather than a single-compound dominance model.
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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 with established toxicity. Isopropyl alcohol, while cleaner than naphtha, is also not intended for internal consumption. 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.
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.
About OilWell Cannabis and the OilWell RSO Formula
OilWell Cannabis was founded by Colin Valencia in Houston, Texas. But our story is Plumas County’s story in a different landscape. 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. It’s a place where opportunity is scarce, danger is constant, and you learn early that if you want to survive, you figure things out yourself.
That upbringing shaped everything we do. The McAllen area is a city of contrasts—vibrant culture and a thriving retail sector, yet deeply affected by poverty and limited opportunities outside of the retail and healthcare industries. Reynosa, on the other hand, is an industrial hub plagued by violence and cartel activity, making it a harsh environment for anyone growing up there. Colin’s childhood was marked by exposure to both the opportunities and the challenges of life along the border. Early on, he learned to hustle, taking on risky work in transporting items across the border for various groups. Those early experiences exposed him to the complexities and dangers of life in that region. A lot of his best friends have been killed or are in prison because of the associated dangers. He has faced every form of violence imaginable, both in the streets and across the border. By sixteen, one way or another, he had to leave home for good.
Despite the dangers, Colin did not fall into the darkest paths available to him, like selling harder substances. Instead, he focused on cannabis, seeing it as a safer and more beneficial alternative. He grew up in the traditional cannabis world long before legalization, learning the plant intimately while operating in the shadows. Over time, he transitioned from those early, risky ventures to creating a legal, legitimate business in an industry he believes in.
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—would eventually define OilWell’s approach.
Bentley’s Story: The Foundation of Everything
The 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. Colin had already faced too much loss and seen too much suffering in his life. Bentley was a fighter, just like him, and Colin was not ready to let him go. In a desperate search for alternatives, he 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. Getting high. 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. It was a miracle. 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.
Bentley’s journey was Colin’s entry into the world of cannabis beyond just getting high. It became a mission to create real solutions that help alleviate pain and suffering, not just for pets but for people as well. Bentley’s story is the foundation of OilWell Cannabis, driving its commitment to quality, innovation, and compassionate care.
Colin’s Personal Journey: From Addiction to Advocacy
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 Houston: Seven Features, Four Years, One Voice
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.
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 this means for Plumas County: Mainstream media validation from a major-market ABC affiliate is a credibility signal that transcends geography. When you’re in Quincy or Loyalton, trying to decide whether to trust an online cannabis company, knowing that a major news organization has vetted this person for four years—covering legal crises, public health initiatives, and personal revelations—matters. It means you’re not dealing with a fly-by-night operation, but with a business that has been tested in the spotlight.
The OilWell Philosophy: Four Core Principles
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:
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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 Plumas County, where the nearest licensed dispensary might be a two-hour drive to Susanville or Reno, this accessibility isn’t a convenience—it’s essential.
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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. This is particularly valuable for Plumas County residents who need daytime relief without impairment—whether you’re operating a tractor in American Valley or working a front desk in Portola.
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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. In Plumas County, where median household income is below the California average, this open-source approach means no one is shut out from potentially life-saving information.
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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.
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 California.
What this means for Plumas County: California has legal recreational cannabis, but many residents still prefer hemp-derived products for several reasons: avoiding the 15-20% cannabis tax at licensed dispensaries, maintaining privacy (no registered purchases), and accessing specific cannabinoid ratios not available in state-regulated products. Our Farm Bill-compliant RSO ships directly to your door in Plumas County without requiring a medical card or dispensary visit.
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. California law permits hemp-derived cannabinoids, but Plumas County residents should be aware that employers may still drug test for THC metabolites.
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.
In Plumas County, where the spirit of self-reliance runs deep, this open-source philosophy resonates. Many of you already make your own tinctures, salves, and edibles. Our published formulas give you the exact blueprint to create a product that would cost hundreds in a dispensary.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
The Decarboxylation Choice—Patient-Controlled Potency
Traditional RSO was always fully decarboxylated. The heat of solvent evaporation converted all THCa into 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. For Plumas County residents who need to stay sharp for operating equipment, driving mountain roads, or working with livestock, this is invaluable.
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.
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 Plumas County residents, this means you can verify every claim we make with independent lab data—something no DIY producer can offer.
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. In Plumas County, where veteran populations in communities like Quincy and Portola have high rates of PTSD, products designed specifically for trauma-related symptoms are essential.
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 Plumas County residents with specific medical conditions, this customization can be life-changing.
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.
When to Use Each Format
| Use case | Recommended format | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Fast relief (acute pain, nausea, panic) | Vape | 1-2 minute onset—perfect for breakthrough pain while hiking in Plumas National Forest |
| Sustained relief (chronic pain, sleep) | Sublingual | 4-6 hour duration—ideal for overnight relief in cold mountain nights |
| Maximum bioavailability | Sublingual | 13-19% absorption—more efficient for long-term use |
| Portability and discretion | Vape | Compact, no measuring required—fits in a pocket for discreet use in small towns |
| Precise dosing control | Sublingual | Graduated dropper in 0.1 mL increments—essential for titration |
| Daytime non-psychoactive use | Sublingual (raw, no heat) | THCa stays inactive, zero impairment—crucial for operating machinery or driving Highway 89 |
| Nighttime psychoactive use | Sublingual (decarbed) or Vape | Activated THCa + delta-8 THC for sleep support |
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 Plumas County residents making the drive to Chico or Sacramento for chemo, having a product that works for both daytime nausea control (raw) and nighttime sleep support (decarbed) is invaluable.
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]
Plumas County’s aging population and physically demanding outdoor work create high rates of chronic pain. The ability to use a non-psychoactive formula during the day while saving psychoactive potency for nighttime is a game-changer.
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
In Plumas County, where the quiet nights can be disrupted by pain, anxiety, or the stress of rural isolation, having a sleep solution that doesn’t involve addictive pharmaceuticals is critical.
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]
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: Getting OilWell to Plumas County
OilWell operates the only same-day RSO delivery system in Houston, but for Plumas County residents, we offer something equally important: reliable, discreet shipping that respects your privacy and timeline.
Nationwide Shipping to Plumas County
- All 50 states where Farm Bill-compliant products are legal—including California
- USPS Priority Mail (2 to 3 business days), FedEx and UPS Ground (3 to 5 business days)
- Discreet packaging with no cannabis branding visible—important in small Plumas County communities where privacy matters
- Tracking provided for all orders
- Temperature-stable packaging for summer shipments—critical for Plumas County’s hot summers and cold winters
- 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 Plumas County specifically: when you order from us, your package ships from Houston, TX, typically within 24 hours. You’ll receive tracking within 2 hours of shipping. Delivery to Plumas County addresses (Quincy, Portola, Chester, Greenville, etc.) takes 3-5 business days via USPS Priority Mail. The return address is discreet, showing only “OilWell CBD” without cannabis references.
How the OilWell Formulas Connect to the Evidence
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 its customers that it will always strive to deliver the best, most thoughtful cannabis products available. OilWell is not here to follow trends. It is 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.
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.
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.
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
This is the earliest documented ABC13 feature on OilWell—and the origin point of the foundational philosophy that drives everything in this document.
Key Quote from Colin: “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.”
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
Key Quote from Colin: “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.”
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
Key Quote from Colin (in response to “Why would someone want to smoke that?”): “I don’t give a sh** if it’s wrong to say you’ll get high off it. Maybe you want to get high.”
This investigative feature by Steve Campion became one of the most widely referenced ABC13 cannabis segments. The exchange became one of Colin’s most iconic media moments: radical honesty on mainstream television with the expletive preserved by the network.
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
OilWell gave away approximately $35,000 in product (1,000 caviar pre-rolls at $34.99 each) to encourage COVID-19 vaccination. The giveaway was hosted at HydroShack Hydroponics on West 20th Street in The Heights. OilWell coordinated with the city of Houston to amplify the vaccination effort, demonstrating community commitment 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
This feature captured a defining moment. Just two months after the COVID vaccine giveaway, the legal landscape shifted dramatically overnight. Shelley Childers 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 Schedule I narcotics.
Key Quote from Colin: “It’s going to be a surprise to a lot of people.”
On the $50 million Texas market: “So those people are now, because they didn’t know, shipping Schedule 1 narcotics, and people are receiving it.”
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
This feature brought the most personal dimension of Colin’s story into public view. The article opened with the OilWell CBD vending machine debut and then revealed that Colin has previously faced charges for marijuana possession.
Key Quote from Colin: “You face challenges with housing, loans, and banking, I mean with about everything.”
“I would love to see people not get hurt for this anymore.”
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
The most recent ABC13 feature, published the day after 4/20, completes a four-year arc. Natario showed Valencia growing hemp and explained that it was legal. The “Renaissance” framing reframed the present as opportunity rather than waiting.
Key Quote from Colin: “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.”
“Right now is actually a pretty—like Renaissance—pretty important time that should be enjoyed now.”
The Through-Line—What the Media Record Reveals
Taken together, these seven ABC13 features and one YouTube clip tell a story that no single article could capture on its own.
Consistency across years. Colin Valencia appeared on ABC13 in 2019, 2021 (four times), 2022, and 2023. The cannabis industry in Texas changed dramatically during those years—legal CBD went from gray area to booming business, Delta-8 went from unknown to $50 million market to Schedule I overnight, a president pardoned federal marijuana convictions, and state legislators debated medical expansion. Through every shift, ABC13 returned to Colin as a primary source.
Breadth of expertise. The features span business reporting, consumer health education, product investigation, legal analysis, political commentary, and community health advocacy. No other Houston cannabis figure was asked to speak to that range of topics across that many segments.
Community action. The COVID vaccine giveaway—$35,000 in product, coordination with city government, no political strings—is documented evidence of the community-first philosophy described in the About OilWell section. So is Colin’s decision to proactively remove Delta-8 products and warn other operators before enforcement began.
Personal stakes. The October 2022 revelation that Colin has a personal marijuana conviction history transforms the entire media record. Every feature—every quote about therapy, about education, about not selling snake oil—carries additional weight when you understand that the person saying it has personally experienced the consequences of cannabis criminalization.
Evolution of language. In 2019, ABC13 called the business “OilWell CBD, a local wholesaler.” By 2021, the reports described OilWell Cannabis as a dispensary and featured Colin as an industry authority. By 2023, Colin was explaining industry dynamics and legal strategy on camera with the confidence of a sector leader. The media record tracks the growth of both the business and its founder’s public role.
These features are not marketing materials. They are independently produced, editorially controlled news segments from a major-market ABC affiliate that repeatedly identified Colin Valencia as the most credible, most quotable, and most accessible voice in Houston’s legal cannabis industry. That is the kind of recognition that cannot be purchased—it can only be earned.
General Knowledge
Research Method and Evidence Weighting
This section prioritizes sources in the following order: human clinical evidence, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, NIH and other institutional summaries, then mechanistic or preclinical literature when human data are sparse. That weighting matters here because the evidence base is not evenly distributed. Of the compounds listed in this document, CBD and delta-9 THC have the strongest human literature; delta-8 THC, THCa, CBG, CBN, CBC, and most terpenes are still much more dependent on reviews, animal work, in vitro pharmacology, or early translational literature [1]-[29].
Institutional Baseline from NIH and Related Sources
- NCCIH states that the strongest established cannabinoid evidence is for certain rare epilepsies, chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, and appetite or weight-loss indications associated with HIV/AIDS. It also notes only modest evidence for chronic pain and multiple-sclerosis-related symptoms, with many other claimed uses still in early-stage research [1].
- NCCIH also emphasizes that the FDA has not approved the cannabis plant itself for medical use, although purified CBD and synthetic THC-like drugs have specific approvals [1].
- Safety concerns repeatedly highlighted by NIH and institutional sources include impairment, motor vehicle crash risk, cannabis use disorder, pregnancy-related concerns, accidental pediatric exposure, contamination or labeling inaccuracy, and THC-vape lung-injury concerns [1].
- NCCIH specifically warns that over-the-counter CBD products may differ from their labels and that CBD itself has been associated with decreased alertness, gastrointestinal effects, liver-related adverse effects, and drug-drug interactions [1].
Cannabinoids
CBD
- Evidence profile: strongest human evidence in the current formula set, especially when CBD is studied as a purified product rather than as a loose wellness ingredient [1]-[6].
- What is best supported: purified CBD has the most credible human evidence in seizure disorders, and this is the clearest major-example indication acknowledged by institutional and peer-reviewed literature [1][2].
- Anxiety research: a 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis covering 316 participants across eight eligible articles reported a statistically significant anxiolytic signal, but the authors also stressed that the clinical sample remains limited and that more trials are needed before broad conclusions are justified [3].
- Pain research: a 2024 systematic review of clinical and preclinical CBD monotherapy studies concluded that the pain literature is promising but heterogeneous, with trial quality and consistency still limiting confidence in broad analgesic claims [4].
- Sleep research: a 2023 insomnia review found that the literature remains methodologically weak, with many studies relying on nonvalidated subjective measures and relatively few objective sleep assessments [5].
- Safety and interaction concerns: a 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis found a real signal for liver enzyme elevation and possible drug-induced liver injury in some CBD contexts, which is especially relevant for concentrated oral products and polypharmacy settings [6]. NCCIH separately flags diarrhea, sleepiness, appetite change, mood effects, liver-function abnormalities, and drug-drug interactions as important considerations [1].
- Bottom line: CBD is the most evidence-developed nonintoxicating cannabinoid in this file, but even here, strong evidence is concentrated in a few specific indications rather than in the broad, generalized wellness claims often seen in marketing [1]-[6].
CBG
- Evidence profile: mostly review-level and preclinical; human evidence remains sparse [7][8].
- Pharmacology: CBG is the biosynthetic precursor to several major cannabinoids and appears pharmacologically distinct from both THC and CBD. Review literature describes interactions spanning cannabinoid receptors as well as alpha-2 adrenoceptors and 5-HT1A-related signaling, which makes it mechanistically interesting but not yet clinically established [7].
- Potential research areas: published reviews discuss possible relevance to neurologic disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, and antibacterial activity, but these are primarily pharmacology-led hypotheses or preclinical findings rather than mature human therapeutic conclusions [7][8].
- Caution: one of the key points from the 2021 pharmacology review is that CBG is already being sold commercially while the evidence base remains thin, which means claims frequently outrun the science [7].
- Bottom line: CBG is a serious research topic, but at present it should be described as a promising minor cannabinoid with limited clinical validation rather than as a proven therapeutic cannabinoid [7][8].
Delta-8 THC
- Evidence profile: pharmacologically relevant, psychoactive, and much less clinically characterized than delta-9 THC [9]-[11].
- Comparative pharmacology: a 2022 review concluded that delta-8 THC and delta-9 THC have broadly similar pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior. Delta-8 THC is a partial CB1 agonist with cannabimimetic activity in animals and humans, but it appears less potent than delta-9 THC, likely in part because of weaker CB1 affinity [9].
- Public-health literature: a 2023 scoping review found that much of the delta-8 evidence base is still dominated by animal studies, product chemistry, use reports, and public-health concerns rather than strong modern human trials. The same review also noted reports of adverse consequences and emphasized regulatory and product-quality concerns [10].
- Manufacturing context: the recent chemistry and pharmacology review reinforces that commercial delta-8 interest is tied to greater stability and easier synthesis relative to naturally scarce plant levels, which is part of why product-byproduct and lab-testing questions matter [11].
- Bottom line: delta-8 THC should be treated as a psychoactive THC analogue with real pharmacologic activity, incomplete human safety characterization, and more manufacturing-quality uncertainty than many consumers realize [9]-[11].
THCa
- Evidence profile: important chemically and formulation-wise, but still low on direct human therapeutic evidence [12].
- What it is: THCa is the acidic precursor of THC and may represent a very large share of the THC-related content in raw plant material. The key formulation issue is that THCa decarboxylates into THC during heating and can also change over time during storage and processing [12].
- Psychoactivity: the major review source stresses that THCa itself does not produce the psychoactive effects associated with THC in humans, but the distinction only holds if the molecule stays in its acidic form and is not substantially decarboxylated [12].
- Research status: in vitro and rodent literature suggest anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and antineoplastic possibilities, but these are not equivalent to established human outcomes [12].
- Bottom line: THCa is best understood as a highly relevant precursor molecule whose interpretation depends heavily on route, temperature, processing, and storage. Any claim about THCa needs to account for possible conversion into THC [12].
Delta-9 THC
- Evidence profile: strongest human evidence of the psychoactive cannabinoids listed here, but also the clearest adverse-effect burden [1][13]-[15].
- What is institutionally best supported: NCCIH identifies THC-containing cannabinoid medicines as relevant to chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, appetite and weight loss in HIV/AIDS, and some multiple-sclerosis- and pain-related outcomes, while still stressing that many other uses remain uncertain or early-stage [1].
- Pain evidence: a 2022 systematic review of cannabis-based products for chronic pain found that products with high THC content or roughly comparable THC:CBD ratios may provide short-term pain benefit, but they also increased dizziness, sedation, nausea, and treatment discontinuation due to adverse events [13].
- Pharmacokinetics and onset: classic pharmacokinetic review literature remains useful here: inhaled THC usually produces effects within seconds to minutes, peaks roughly within 15 to 30 minutes, and tapers over a few hours; oral THC has later onset, later peak, and longer duration, which matters for both benefit and overconsumption risk [14].
- Mental-health risk: a 2025 systematic review of high-concentration THC products found consistent unfavorable associations with psychosis or schizophrenia outcomes and cannabis use disorder, with additional concerning signals for anxiety and depression in nontherapeutic settings [15].
- Broader safety: institutional and review literature also describe anxiety or panic at high doses, tachycardia, blood-pressure changes, dependency potential, withdrawal symptoms, pregnancy concerns, accidental pediatric exposure, and vape-related lung-injury concerns in THC-containing products [1][14][15].
- Bottom line: delta-9 THC has legitimate therapeutic relevance in some settings, but it also carries the clearest intoxication, psychiatric, and dose-related safety liabilities in this document [1][13]-[15].
CBN
- Evidence profile: weak human evidence; marketing has clearly moved ahead of the data [12][16][17].
- What it is often marketed for: sleep and sedation. That reputation is widespread, but the clinical support is far thinner than the market suggests [16][17].
- Best direct review for the sleep claim: the 2021 narrative review on CBN and sleep screened 99 human-study abstracts, reviewed eight full-text articles, and found no clinical trials using validated sleep questionnaires or formal polysomnography that could substantiate strong sleep-promoting claims for CBN [16].
- Broader sleep literature: the 2024 updated review on cannabis and sleep concluded that overall cannabinoid sleep research still does not match the scale of real-world use, and the need for better-designed, adequately powered trials remains substantial [17].
- Chemical context: downstream cannabinoid degradation pathways matter here as well; review literature on THCa notes that THC can further degrade toward CBN under certain conditions, which helps explain why CBN is often discussed in aging or oxidized cannabis chemistry contexts [12].
- Bottom line: CBN is one of the clearest examples in this field where cultural reputation is stronger than the current clinical evidence base [16][17].
CBC
- Evidence profile: emerging, intriguing, and still overwhelmingly preclinical or review-based [18][19].
- Pharmacology and therapeutic interest: the 2024 focused review on CBC argues that it has distinct pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and receptor behavior relative to better-known cannabinoids, and highlights antinociceptive, antibacterial, and anti-seizure areas as especially interesting research targets [18].
- What the older literature shows: review literature summarizing CBC in animal and in vitro work reports anti-inflammatory effects, reduced gut hypermobility, modest rodent analgesic activity, and possible neurobiological or antiproliferative relevance, but these signals are not yet strong evidence for patient-facing claims [19].
- Safety caveat: the 2024 CBC review explicitly notes that over-the-counter CBC products are already being sold despite little evidence establishing clinical efficacy or safety [18].
- Bottom line: CBC belongs in the category of scientifically credible minor cannabinoids that deserve more research, not in the category of already-validated clinical actives [18][19].
Terpenes
Terpene claims need even stricter interpretation than cannabinoid claims. Much of the terpene literature comes from isolated compounds, essential oils, non-cannabis plants, or preclinical models rather than from controlled human studies of cannabis formulations. The 2024 entourage-effect review makes this especially important: terpene bioactivity is plausible and sometimes compelling, but robust proof of clinically meaningful entourage effects in humans remains limited [20][29].
Limonene
- Evidence profile: largely review and preclinical, with useful safety literature [20]-[22].
- Potential activity: a 2021 review describes limonene as a multifunctional monoterpene with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, immune-modulatory, and other possible activities, but the overwhelming share of those claims comes from nonhuman or non-cannabis literature [21].
- Safety note: limonene oxidation products, especially hydroperoxides, are clinically relevant contact allergens and are important in patch-testing literature [22].
- Bottom line: limonene is biologically active and widely discussed, but cannabis-specific therapeutic claims should stay conservative unless they are directly supported in humans [20]-[22].
Myrcene
- Evidence profile: mostly preclinical, with very limited human evidence [20][23].
- Research summary: the 2021 myrcene review describes anxiolytic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties and discusses possible mechanisms, but explicitly states that human studies are lacking [23].
- Interpretation caution: myrcene is often invoked in consumer language as if it were a proven sedating terpene that explains couch-lock or sleep effects. That is a stronger claim than the human evidence currently supports [20][23].
- Bottom line: myrcene is a plausible bioactive terpene, but compound-specific clinical claims about mood, pain, or sedation remain far ahead of definitive human proof [23].
Caryophyllene
- Evidence profile: among the most mechanistically interesting terpenes because of direct cannabinoid-system relevance, but still mostly preclinical [24].
- Why it stands out: a 2021 focused review describes beta-caryophyllene as a selective CB2 receptor agonist, which is unusual and makes it especially relevant when discussing cannabis terpenes in pharmacologic rather than purely aromatic terms [24].
- Research themes: anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, gastroprotective, and related actions are repeatedly discussed in the review literature, but human clinical confirmation remains limited [24].
- Bottom line: beta-caryophyllene is arguably the strongest candidate for a terpene with cannabinoid-system significance, but it still should not be described as clinically proven for the outcomes commonly attributed to it [24].
Pinene
- Evidence profile: promising preclinical literature, weak human clinical confirmation [20][25].
- Brain-health framing: the 2021 review on pinene and linalool as terpene-based medicines for brain health found antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective signals that justify future study, but it also emphasized that evidence is mostly preclinical and that well-designed clinical trials are lacking [25].
- Interpretation caution: claims that pinene reliably improves memory, sharpens attention, or counterbalances THC-related cognitive effects remain interesting hypotheses rather than settled clinical facts [20][25].
- Bottom line: pinene deserves scientific attention, but strong cognition-related claims should be presented as exploratory [25].
Linalool
- Evidence profile: similar to pinene: substantial preclinical interest, limited direct clinical confirmation [20][22][25][26].
- Research summary: linalool is repeatedly discussed in relation to stress, mood, and brain-health pharmacology. The 2021 brain-health review found enough preclinical signal to justify continued investigation in neurological and psychiatric contexts, while still emphasizing the lack of robust human trials [25].
- Additional literature: separate review literature discusses possible antidepressant mechanisms and neuropharmacologic relevance, but this remains a translational rather than definitive clinical story [26].
- Safety note: as with limonene, oxidized linalool hydroperoxides are recognized allergens in dermatitis literature [22].
- Bottom line: linalool is scientifically credible as a bioactive terpene, but current evidence supports cautious phrasing rather than firm therapeutic promises [22][25][26].
Humulene
- Evidence profile: translationally interesting, but still early [20][27].
- Scoping-review findings: a 2024 scoping review analyzed 340 articles and found broad preclinical evidence for anti-inflammatory and other biologic effects, with some rodent work even suggesting cannabimimetic properties via CB1 and adenosine A2a pathways [27].
- Interpretation caution: those findings are valuable for hypothesis generation, but they do not yet establish consistent human efficacy across pain, inflammation, or mood outcomes [27].
- Bottom line: humulene is one of the more interesting terpene research targets in this list, but it remains far from clinically settled [27].
Terpinolene
- Evidence profile: one of the least clinically characterized terpenes in this file [20][28].
- Systematic-review findings: the 2021 terpinolene review screened 2,449 records and included 57 studies, concluding that terpinolene has a range of reported biological effects but that the evidence base is still dominated by in silico, in vitro, and animal studies rather than human trials [28].
- Interpretation caution: even recent cannabis entourage reviews frame terpene benefits as exploratory, not as established compound-specific clinical effects [20].
- Bottom line: terpinolene is biologically interesting, but among the listed terpenes it remains especially underdeveloped clinically [20][28].
Research Limits and Interpretation
- The evidence base is highly uneven. CBD and delta-9 THC can support the most detailed human-facing statements; the rest require more caution [1]-[29].
- Whole-cannabis extract data, purified-molecule data, semisynthetic cannabinoid data, and terpene-only data are not interchangeable. One common error in cannabis writing is to let evidence from one category stand in for another.
- Minor cannabinoids and terpenes are commercially interesting precisely because they are underexplored, but that also means the claims around them often become inflated.
- Product quality matters as much as molecule identity. Labeling inaccuracies, contamination, synthesis byproducts, dose variability, and route-dependent pharmacokinetics all materially affect interpretation in real-world products [1][10][11][14].
- For THCa in particular, chemistry is destiny: storage and heating can change the actual exposure profile by converting acidic cannabinoids into neutral cannabinoids such as THC [12].
Common Overstatements to Avoid
- Overstatement: CBN is a clinically proven sleep cannabinoid.
More accurate: the specific sleep evidence for CBN remains weak and dated, with no strong validated-trial base yet identified [16][17]. - Overstatement: myrcene is a proven human sedative that reliably explains couch-lock.
More accurate: myrcene has plausible preclinical bioactivity, but direct human proof for that common claim is limited [20][23]. - Overstatement: terpenes in general have proven entourage effects in patients.
More accurate: entourage hypotheses are influential and worth studying, but robust clinical proof remains limited and highly compound-specific [20][29]. - Overstatement: THCa is always nonpsychoactive.
More accurate: THCa itself is not THC, but heating and processing can convert THCa into THC, changing the effective exposure [12]. - Overstatement: delta-8 THC is safe because it is hemp-derived.
More accurate: delta-8 THC is psychoactive, pharmacologically close to delta-9 THC, and often entangled with manufacturing and testing concerns [9]-[11].
Practical Takeaways for the Formulas in This Document
- The most evidence-developed actives in these formulas are CBD and delta-9 THC.
- Delta-8 THC is not a trivial or purely mild ingredient; it is a psychoactive cannabinoid with less robust safety and efficacy characterization than delta-9 THC.
- THCa meaningfully changes with processing and should not be interpreted the same way in raw, gently handled, and heated formats.
- CBG, CBN, and CBC are scientifically credible but clinically immature compared with CBD and THC.
- The listed terpenes are likely highly relevant to aroma, flavor, and potentially some biologic activity, but compound-specific human therapeutic claims should be made carefully and only where directly supported.
References
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RSO Sublingual Oil Formula
| Cannabinoid | Amount |
|---|---|
| CBD | 4,500mg |
| CBG | 3,000mg |
| Delta-8 THC | 6,000mg |
| THCa | 1,500mg |
| Delta-9 THC | 90mg |
| CBN | 750mg |
| CBC | 750mg |
| Total Cannabinoids | 16,590mg |
- Live Terpenes: 5%
- Format: 30mL bottle
- Active cannabinoids per mL: 553mg
For Plumas County residents, this 30mL bottle provides 40-60 doses depending on your needs. At the recommended starting dose of 0.5mL, that’s 30 doses—enough for a month of daily use. The graduated dropper allows precise measurement in 0.1mL increments, critical for careful titration.
RSO Vape Cartridge Formula
| Cannabinoid | Percentage |
|---|---|
| CBD | 30% |
| CBG | 20% |
| Delta-8 THC | 15% |
| THCa | 10% |
| CBN | 10% |
| CBC | 10% |
- Live Terpenes: 5%+
- Format: 1 Gram cartridge
- 510-thread universal battery compatibility
The vape cartridge is ideal for Plumas County residents who need rapid relief. Whether it’s breakthrough pain during a long drive on Highway 70, acute anxiety before a medical appointment in Chico, or sudden nausea from chemo side effects, the 1-2 minute onset provides immediate support.
Terpene Profile (Both Products)
- Limonene (citrus-bright)
- Myrcene
- Caryophyllene (β-caryophyllene – pepper/spice)
- Pinene (forest-fresh)
- Linalool (floral, lavender)
- Humulene (earthy, woody)
- Terpinolene (piney, fruity, sparkling)
This terpene profile evokes Plumas County’s natural environment—the pine forests, wildflowers, and fresh mountain air. The sensory experience is part of the therapeutic effect, connecting you to the Sierra Nevada landscape while the cannabinoids work in your body.
Your Path Forward in Plumas County
If you’re still reading, you’re probably weighing whether RSO is right for you or someone you love. Here’s what we want you to know:
You have options. You can use our product raw and non-psychoactive during the day, decarboxylate it at night for full potency, or vape it for immediate relief. You control the experience based on your life in Plumas County.
You have information. Every formula, every cannabinoid amount, every terpene is published. If you can’t afford our products, you have the recipe to make your own. That’s how strongly we believe in access.
You have support. Our team answers the phone at (832) 416-2816. We respond to emails at [email protected]. We’ll walk you through dosing, answer questions about drug interactions, and help you understand what to expect.
You have science. Every claim is backed by peer-reviewed research. Every safety concern is addressed honestly. We don’t promise cures—we promise the best possible version of the information so you can make an informed decision.
You have legality. Our products ship legally to Plumas County under the Farm Bill. They arrive in discreet packaging. No medical card required. Age 21+ only.
You have community. You’re joining thousands of customers across six continents who’ve found relief. Many are veterans. Many are cancer patients. Many are chronic pain survivors. All of them wanted the same thing you want: honest answers and effective products.
Plumas County-Specific Resources
While we ship nationwide, we also want to connect you with local Plumas County resources:
- Plumas County Public Health: (530) 283-6330—for general health questions
- Eastern Plumas Health Care: (530) 832-6600—Quincy’s hospital
- Plumas County Veterans Services: (530) 283-6128—for veterans needing support
- Plumas Crisis Line: (530) 283-4333—for mental health crises
- Plumas County Senior Center: (530) 283-0800—for senior services
We encourage you to discuss cannabinoid use with your healthcare provider, especially if you’re receiving treatment for serious conditions.
How to Order for Plumas County
Ordering is simple:
- Visit our website: oilwellcbd.com
- Choose your product: RSO Sublingual Oil ($129.99) or RSO Vape Cartridge ($49.99)
- Enter your Plumas County address: Quincy, Portola, Chester, Greenville, or rural routes
- Select shipping: USPS Priority Mail (3-5 days) or expedited options
- Complete age verification: 21+ required
- Track your package: You’ll receive tracking within 2 hours of shipping
Most Plumas County orders arrive within 3-5 business days. The package will be discreet—our return address shows “OilWell CBD” with no cannabis references.
Final Thoughts for Plumas County
We know that living in Plumas County means being resourceful, skeptical of outsiders, and protective of your community. We honor that. We’re not asking for blind trust—we’re offering complete transparency.
Every number in this document is real. Every quote is verified. Every formula is published. Every risk is disclosed. That’s the OilWell difference.
From our origins in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood to your doorstep in Plumas County, we’re bringing you the most advanced RSO formulation available anywhere—backed by science, proven in media, and designed with the same love that saved Bentley and the same determination that got Colin off benzodiazepines.
If you have questions, call us. If you need the recipe, it’s here. If you’re ready to try, we’re ready to ship.
This is more than a product. It’s a promise: that everyone deserves access to the best possible version of cannabis education, so you can give it a fair shot and decide for yourself whether it’s right or wrong for you.
Welcome to OilWell. Welcome to honest cannabis.
OilWell Cannabis
810 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77006
Phone: (832) 416-2816
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://oilwellcbd.com/
Ships nationwide to Plumas County, California and all 50 states. International shipping available. Age 21+ only. All products Farm Bill compliant with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC.
THCa Rick Simpson Oil
Full-Spectrum • In-House Extraction
THE OILWELL PASSION PROJECT: THCa RSO
Experience true full-spectrum relief. Our Rick Simpson Oil is meticulously crafted in-house to preserve the complete cannabinoid and terpene profile of the plant. Potent, pure, and profound.
- 🌿 Maximum Potency
- 🔬 Third-Party Lab Tested
- 🚀 Same-Day Delivery Available