Strains & Products
What Is RSO?
RSO stands for Rick Simpson Oil, a full-extract cannabis oil — thick, dark, and minimally refined, so it retains a broad range of the plant's compounds. It is decarboxylated during production, meaning it is active when swallowed rather than smoked, and it usually arrives in a marked oral syringe. At a New Jersey dispensary, RSO is sold as a concentrate and labeled with its total cannabinoid content.
What RSO actually is
RSO is short for Rick Simpson Oil, named after the Canadian man who published his own preparation method in the 2000s and gave the format its name. The version you find on a licensed New Jersey menu has little in common with a kitchen project: it is produced in a regulated facility and lab-tested batch by batch before it reaches a shelf. Traditional RSO is made using solvent extraction followed by removal of the solvent and heat, though some products now marketed as RSO use non-chemical or 'solventless' processes — so check the label or manufacturer information for the specific extraction method.
Two things define it. First, it is a minimally refined, full-extract oil — often called full-spectrum — that retains a broader range of cannabinoids and other plant compounds than highly refined distillate, which is processed more extensively and typically concentrated around a primary cannabinoid, most often THC. Second, it is decarboxylated: heat applied during production converts THCA into THC, which is why RSO is active when you swallow it and why it does not need to be lit or vaporized to do anything.
The result looks like nothing else in the case — a near-black, tar-thick oil that smells and tastes intensely of plant material. That strong flavor reflects its relatively minimal refinement and retention of more plant compounds than highly refined extracts like distillate.
How RSO is measured
RSO almost always comes in an oral syringe rather than a jar, and that packaging is doing real work. The barrel is printed with graduation marks — typically indicating volume — so you can push out a very small, repeatable amount instead of guessing with a dab tool. Because potency varies by product, use the package label to determine how much THC is in a measured amount.
Run the numbers and the reason becomes obvious. A one-gram syringe testing at 70% total THC holds roughly 700 mg of THC. For comparison, New Jersey caps a standardized single serving of a cannabis product at 10 mg of active THC — which makes 700 mg roughly equivalent to seventy of those 10 mg amounts, and is why the marks on the barrel matter more than they would on almost any other product.
A few practical notes:
- Warm it first. The oil is stiff at room temperature. Holding the syringe in your hands for a minute makes it far easier to push out an accurate amount.
- Swallowed, not inhaled. RSO is most often taken orally on its own or mixed into food. Because it goes through the digestive tract, onset and duration behave like an edible — slower to arrive and longer-lasting than inhaling.
- Use it as labeled. RSO is commonly sold for oral use. Do not put it in a vape cartridge or inhale it unless the manufacturer specifically states the product is formulated and labeled for inhalation.
Given the concentration, our start low, go slow guidance applies here more than to almost any other format on the menu.
RSO vs. other concentrates
RSO sits in the concentrate category, but it is built for a different purpose than the extracts next to it:
| Format | Typical profile | Usual form | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSO | Full-extract, minimally refined | Thick dark oil, often in a syringe | Oral use or food |
| Distillate | Highly refined, cannabinoid-dominant | Clear to amber oil | Vapes and infused products |
| Live resin | Fresh-frozen extract, terpene-forward | Sauce, sugar, badder | Usually vaporized or dabbed |
| Rosin | Solventless extract | Sap, badder, jam | Usually vaporized or dabbed |
The practical difference is in processing and intended use. RSO is commonly sold for oral use, while live resin and rosin are more commonly intended for inhalation — and distillate is widely used in both vape cartridges and infused products. Our broader guide to concentrates covers the rest of the category in detail.
Buying RSO in New Jersey
New Jersey counts RSO against the concentrate line of its purchase limits. Per transaction, an adult 21 or over can buy up to one ounce of dried flower, 4 grams of concentrate, 4 grams of vaporizable oil, or 1,000 mg of ingestible products — and mixed baskets are allowed, so a half-ounce of flower plus two grams of concentrate works too. Statewide possession is capped at 6 ounces.
Every syringe carries a state-required label. The figures worth finding are total THC as a percentage, total THC in milligrams for the package, the batch number, and the expiration date. Our walkthrough on reading a cannabis label decodes the rest of the panel.
For storage, keep the syringe upright in its child-resistant packaging, somewhere cool and dark. Heat thins the oil and light degrades cannabinoids over time — the same rules covered in how to store cannabis.
Unity Rd. in Somerset lists RSO and the rest of the concentrate selection on the live menu with potency printed for each batch, and a budtender can walk you through the differences in person or over same-day delivery within 15 miles of the store.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. RSO is generally a minimally refined, full-extract oil that retains a broader range of cannabinoids and other plant compounds, which is why it is dark and strongly flavored. Distillate is processed more extensively and is typically concentrated around a primary cannabinoid, often THC. They are made differently and used differently.
It varies by batch, but RSO commonly tests above 50% total THC and often lands in the 60 to 90% range. At 70%, a one-gram syringe holds roughly 700 mg of THC. The exact percentage for your batch is printed on the New Jersey label.
RSO is commonly sold for oral use and should be used only as directed on the product label. Do not put an RSO product in a vape cartridge or inhale it unless the manufacturer specifically states that it is formulated and labeled for inhalation.
RSO counts as a concentrate, so the per-transaction limit is 4 grams of concentrate, or a mixed basket that stays within the one-ounce equivalent the state allows. Adults 21 and over may possess up to 6 ounces of cannabis statewide.
Stand it upright in its child-resistant packaging in a cool, dark spot. Heat thins the oil and makes it harder to measure, and light breaks cannabinoids down over time. Warming the syringe in your hands right before use is the easier way to loosen it.
Sources & Further Reading
- NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission — Adult personal use cannabis
- NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission — Cannabis laws
- NJ-CRC Packaging and Labeling Guide (2024)
- NJ-CRC Packaging and Labeling Guide Addendum (February 2025)
- NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health — Cannabis and cannabinoids
Educational content only — not medical advice. Cannabis products are for adults 21+ with valid government-issued ID (or a valid NJ medical cannabis card). Never drive under the influence. Effects vary by person and product.
See What's on the Concentrate Shelf
RSO, live resin, rosin, and distillate are all listed on the Unity Rd. menu with potency printed for every batch. Browse online, or ask a budtender which format fits what you are after.