Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is a highly potent full-spectrum extract that’s become a staple among medical cannabis patients.
Its intensely relaxing mental and physical effects make it therapeutically useful for people living with painful conditions, undergoing severe insomnia, or experiencing the side effects of cancer treatment. RSO has even shown some promise as a cancer treatment, and many of our customers buy it from us for that reason.
If you’ve never tried RSO before, you’re probably wondering how long it takes to take effect.
We’ll cover this and more, highlighting how potency, individual biology, consumption method, and dosage impact onset time and duration of effects so you can get the relief you need.
RSO Onset Time by Consumption Method
| Method | Onset time |
| Oral (edibles, capsules, oil) | 30-120 minutes |
| Sublingual | 15-45 minutes |
| Topical | 10-15 minutes (no head effects or high) |
How Long Does RSO Take to Kick In?
How you consume your RSO determines everything about the experience, including how long it takes to take effect. Oral, sublingual, and topical consumption methods each follow a unique pathway into your body, which explains the difference in onset time.
Here’s the breakdown:
Sublingual
RSO takes 15-45 minutes to kick it when you take it sublingually. This method involves placing a drop or two of RSO under your tongue, holding it there for a minute or two, and then swallowing it.
The bottom of your mouth has a wide network of capillaries, which allows you to absorb the THC and other cannabinoids directly into your bloodstream.
Our RSO syringes are popular among customers who prefer sublingual consumption. Since they contain pure oil, they’re incredibly potent, making them ideal if you’re a medical patient looking for a strong, precise dose.
Alternatively, our RSO tinctures provide a sublingual consumption option that’s not quite so potent.
The effects of sublingually consumed RSO typically last 6-8 hours, although they can extend for up to 12 hours, depending on the dose.
Oral
When mixed with food or a beverage or swallowed directly, RSO takes 30-120 minutes to kick in.
With oral consumption, you first digest the extract in your stomach before your liver can metabolize the THC and distribute it into your bloodstream.
That’s why oral RSO consumption takes longer to work than sublingual consumption.
RSO capsules, gummies, and syringes all often fall into this category. Gummies are especially popular people who take RSO recreationally or for lighter therapeutic use.
As with sublingual RSO, RSO’s effects typically last for 6-8 hours (though they can last for up to 12) when you take it orally.
Topical
When applied to the skin, RSO does not have a typical “kick in” time like sublingual or oral use. Instead, it works locally on the area where you apply it, and you may begin to notice effects within 15-60 minutes.
Topical application involves rubbing a small amount of RSO into your skin, often over sore joints, muscles, or irritated areas.
Many people use RSO topically to treat skin cancer or target specific areas on the body for chronic pain management.
Topical RSO delivers targeted relief without the same intoxicating effects associated with eating or swallowing THC. Since the extract is absorbed through your skin rather than entering your bloodstream, it won’t produce a full-body high.
Effects may last several hours, depending on how much you apply, the area treated, and your individual skin absorption.
Factors That Affect How Long RSO Takes to Kick In
Several factors determine the onset time of RSO. Here’s a look at each:
- Method of Consumption: THC takes different routes when you take it sublingually rather than orally, with sublingual application being faster due to direct delivery to blood vessels in your mouth. This is the biggest factor affecting onset time.
- Food Intake: When you take RSO on an empty stomach, effects may kick in faster, but they won’t be as potent or long-lasting. For stronger, longer effects, we recommend taking RSO alongside food, preferably something high in fat.
- Dosage: The amount of RSO you take is another crucial factor that impacts the experience. Due to its high potency, a high dose of RSO may have a faster perceived onset.
- THC Tolerance: New medical cannabis users with a low tolerance for THC may experience a quick onset time, even on a low dose.
- Metabolism: Individual biology plays a huge role in RSO onset time. Some people metabolize THC quickly, resulting in a faster onset and weaker effects, while someone with slower metabolism may experience a longer, more intense high from the same dose.
RSO Onset Time & Medical Use: Tips for Success
If you’re new to RSO oil and its extremely high potency, these practical tips will help make your experience a safe one:
Dial In Your Dosage
Start with a small dose of RSO; at higher doses, the effects may be too intense for you to handle.
We recommend taking about 1ml of RSO a day, split into two or more doses.
This is equivalent to about one grain of rice, so a single dose should be roughly the same size as a ¼ grain of rice. As your body gets used to it, you can gradually increase the dosage.
Time Your Doses Mindfully
Instead of taking a single large dose of RSO, we recommend splitting your daily dose into three doses, taken 4 hours apart.
You’ll feel the effects you’re seeking more consistently when RSO is a part of your daily regimen, rather something you take occasionally.
Increase Bioavailability
The cannabinoids in RSO – including THC – are fat-soluble, meaning, they need to bond to fat molecules in order to move through your bloodstream.
Therefore, combining your RSO with a heavy, fatty meal significantly enhances bioavailability, leading to a stronger overall experience.
Bioavailability refers to the proportion and rate at which THC enters your bloodstream and becomes available to produce the desired effect.
This metric dictates the onset time, the duration of the effects, and even the intensity of the high.
Choose the Right Product
RSO products aren’t all alike. Make sure you’re buying the best RSO oil you can find. Choose your RSO product based on the intended use, personal tolerance, and dosage preferences.
THC tinctures are great if you prefer the faster sublingual timeline, while gummies work for people who don’t mind a longer onset if it means stronger, longer-lasting effects.
Conclusion: How Long Does RSO Take to Kick In?
RSO takes 15–120 minutes to kick in, depending on how you use it, how much you take, and your individual biology. The sublingual method has an onset time of only 15-45 minutes, oral consumption delivers effects within 30-120 minutes, and topical consumption starts delivering benefits in 15-60 minutes.
Remember that RSO works best when you use it consistently over the course of many days. Its therapeutic effects and benefits take a while to manifest, but once they do, the difference is hard to miss.
More RSO Brand Reviews
Ready to choose a product that fits your preferred consumption method? If you want to see how specific products compare in onset time, potency, and overall experience, check out our detailed brand reviews:
RSO Onset Time: Frequently Asked Questions
You were curious to find out how long does it take for RSO to take effect, and now you know.
Here are our answers to some of the other questions our customers ask us about the onset time of RSO:
How Long Do RSO Gummies Take to Take Effect?
RSO gummies work the same as any other cannabis edible. They take 45-120 minutes to take effect, but their effects can last 6-12 hours.
How Long Do RSO Syringes Take to Kick In?
RSO syringes are a potent form of RSO, and they kick in within 15-45 minutes when held under the tongue. When swallowed directly or mixed with food, expect an onset time of 45-120 minutes.
How Long Do RSO Capsules Take to Kick In?
Like gummies, RSO capsules are swallowed and fully digested before their effects can kick in, which explains their long onset time of 45-120 minutes. However, their effects last a long time, and they offer a convenient way to get a precise dose of THC.
What Does an RSO High Feel Like?
RSO delivers a powerful body-focused high, characterized by deep muscle relaxation and physical sedation. You may also enjoy a euphoric mental state, making it easier for you to unwind and focus on healing. RSO is quite different from distillate, which often delivers a hazy, head-focused high.
Does RSO Get You Stoned?
Yes. With a potency of 60-90%, RSO is one of the strongest cannabis products. Expect a powerful high that hits hard and lasts long.
Why Hasn’t My RSO Kicked In Yet?
There are a few possible reasons your RSO may have a delayed onset: you took it on a full stomach, you have a slow metabolism, you have a high THC tolerance, thus require a larger dose, or simply not enough time has passed. We recommend waiting 1-2 hours before taking more RSO.
