Full extract cannabis oil (FECO) is a full-spectrum cannabis oil that’s made using food-grade ethanol or CO2. It’s designed to preserve a broad range of compounds from the cannabis plant, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is a cannabis extract developed by Rick Simpson that contains the full-spectrum of compounds from the cannabis plant, including many cannabinoids like THC and CBD, chlorophyll, and plant lipids. Like FECO, high-THC RSO will get you high.
RSO was originally extracted using isopropyl alcohol, but it’s now made using much safer solvents so that it can be consumed orally or used topically with no risk to your health.
The difference is that FECO is a cleaner, more pure, yet still full-spectrum, cannabis extract that is better fit for consumable products.
However, despite the difference in extraction method, these two cannabis products actually aren’t too different. In this article, we’ll dive deeper to discuss how they compare – and how to determine which is right for you.
FECO vs. RSO: Quick Comparison
What is FECO?
Full extract cannabis oil (FECO) is a cannabis extract that’s made to preserve a broad range of compounds that are present in cannabis, including cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and many other compounds.
FECO is made by washing or soaking cannabis with food-grade ethanol or CO2 [1]. This results in a thick, dark, highly concentrated product that most people take orally, sublingually, or through addition to food.
What is RSO?
Rick Simpson oil (RSO) is a cannabis extract named after Rick Simpson, the Canadian cannabis advocate who developed it to treat his skin cancer.
Like FECO, RSO is a full-spectrum cannabis extract. It contains every compound naturally present in cannabis: cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, but also chlorophyll, waxes, lipids, and more. RSO is typically a dark, thick, tar-like oil, and it’s bitter and very “plant-flavored.”
Many people have found RSO to be therapeutically beneficial for cancer, but it’s also commonly taken for sleep, pain relief, and anxiety because of its mental and physical effects.
What’s the Difference Between FECO and RSO?
Here’s a breakdown of the key differences between these two extracts:
Extraction Method
FECO and RSO are both extracted by washing or soaking cannabis in a solvent, then removing the solvent to produce the final product.
FECO is typically extracted using food-grade ethanol or CO2, both modern solvents that ensure a safe-to-consume final product [2].
By contrast, RSO was originally extracted by Rick Simpson using isopropyl alcohol. However, modern RSO (like we sell or like you’d find in a dispensary) is often made using food-grade ethanol or a safer solvent.
One additional difference is that FECO is typically processed at lower temperatures, while the RSO extraction process involves higher heat during the solvent removal stage.
This often means RSO contains more chlorophyll and heavier plant compounds, but FECO contains more terpenes.
Potency
Since they’re full-spectrum cannabis extracts, FECO and RSO offer comparable potency. Both oils test at around 70-80% THC.
However, potency isn’t just about THC percentage. Because RSO contains more full-plant compounds than FECO, it may feel more sedating, with a stronger physical high and slightly fewer mental effects than FECO.
Flavor
Most people describe RSO as strong, bitter, earthy, and heavy in cannabis plant flavor. These flavors come partly from the chlorophyll and other plant compounds retained in the extraction.
FECO may still taste earthy and cannabis-like, but it typically has a cleaner, smoother, and less bitter taste than RSO because it has fewer of those heavier compounds.
How to Dose and Use FECO & RSO
FECO and RSO are some of the most therapeutically beneficial cannabis extracts available today, but you’ll only see major benefits from them if you use them properly. Here’s what you need to know:
Dosage
Whether you’re taking FECO or RSO, you’ll want to start by measuring a dose of about half the size of a grain of rice, which equates to about 15mg of THC (if you’re taking gummies or something else pre-measured).
Take your dose, then wait at least 90 minutes to let the effects kick in before taking more [3].
Over time, you can increase to a full rice grain-sized dose per day.
Note that if you’re using RSO for cancer, you’ll want to continue increasing your dose according to the RSO protocol, where the goal is to consume 60 grams of RSO in 90 days.
Consumption Methods
RSO was originally made with more dangerous solvents, namely isopropyl alcohol and generally intended for topical use.
However, modern RSO and FECO products are both made using safer solvents like carbon dioxide or ethanol that allow for quite a bit of flexibility and safety in how you consume them:
- Oral: Place a small amount of RSO directly in the mouth or swallow it. Effects will kick in in 1-2 hours. Pre-made RSO edibles, such as RSO gummies, are also available.
- Sublingual: Place a small amount of extract under your tongue and hold it there for 30-60 seconds
- Food: Add it to a cracker, candy, chocolate, or mix it into sauces and drinks.
- Capsules: RSO and FECO are sold in capsule form; eat a fat-rich food and then swallow the capsule for the best cannabinoid absorption
- Topical: RSO or FECO may be mixed into a lotion, salve, or ointment for topical use.
Taking RSO with a fatty snack or meal may help some users, according to Reddit discussion, because cannabinoids are fat-soluble and oral cannabis effects depend on digestion and liver processing.
Once you choose your consumption method and have your product at hand, be sure to take the extract alongside a high-fat snack or meal.
This will maximize the effects and benefits you receive because cannabinoids are fat-soluble (i.e. they need to stick to fat to circulate throughout your bloodstream).
A Word of Caution
While FECO and RSO can be consumed orally or topically, they are not meant to be inhaled. Don’t smoke, dab, or vape FECO or RSO – these extracts contain plant lipids, fats, chlorophyll, and waxes that may be harsh or harmful when vaporized.
FECO vs. RSO: Which One Should You Choose?
So, which extract is right for you? Here’s some guidance:
- Choose FECO if you’re looking for balanced effects in a purer extract
- Choose FECO if you want a more flavorful extract that’s high in terpenes
- Choose RSO if you’re looking for deep mental and physical relaxation in a less-refined product
- Choose RSO if you don’t mind the flavor and want more of the heavy compounds that FECO tends to strip out
- Choose RSO if you’re following a specific RSO protocol or want the product most like Rick Simpson’s original oil
Want to see how Rick Simpson Oil stacks up against other popular options on the market? Check out our other detailed breakdown guides:
No matter which product you choose, though, ensure that it’s been 3rd-party lab tested to verify safety and potency. Find a product in a format that works best for you, then, use the tips above to get the most out of it!
References
[1] Lazarjani MP, Young O, Kebede L, Seyfoddin A. Processing and extraction methods of medicinal cannabis: a narrative review. J Cannabis Res. 2021 Jul 19;3(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s42238-021-00087-9. PMID: 34281626; PMCID: PMC8290527.
[2] Addo PW, Sagili SUKR, Bilodeau SE, Gladu-Gallant FA, MacKenzie DA, Bates J, McRae G, MacPherson S, Paris M, Raghavan V, Orsat V, Lefsrud M. Cold Ethanol Extraction of Cannabinoids and Terpenes from Cannabis Using Response Surface Methodology: Optimization and Comparative Study. Molecules. 2022 Dec 11;27(24):8780. doi: 10.3390/molecules27248780. PMID: 36557913; PMCID: PMC9786071.
[3] Schlienz NJ, Spindle TR, Cone EJ, Herrmann ES, Bigelow GE, Mitchell JM, Flegel R, LoDico C, Vandrey R. Pharmacodynamic dose effects of oral cannabis ingestion in healthy adults who infrequently use cannabis. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2020 Jun 1;211:107969. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.107969. Epub 2020 Mar 21. PMID: 32298998; PMCID: PMC8221366.
