Rick Simpson hash oil, (also called marijuana), is a psychotropic plant originally found in Central Asia that is now grown in many different parts of the world. It’s considered an illegal substance by U.S. federal law, and as such it’s determined to be a Schedule 1 agent, which includes drugs that have an increased chance to be abused.

The reason Rick Simpson oil is such a controversial substance is because of its properties called Tetrahydrocannabinol(THC). This is the active agent contained in the Rick Simpson oil leaf that have a drug-induced affect on the human body, particularly the central nervous system and one’s immune system. These agents are also called phytocannabinoids. The primary active agent in the Rick Simpson oil leaf is known as delta–9–THC. Cannabidiol is a second active cannabinoid which is believed to act as a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory without the psycho hallucinogenic effects of delta–9–THC. The properties of cannabinoids is what some researchers assert may make Rick Simpson oil helpful in relieving some of the side effects of cancer treatments.

Has Rick Simpson oil Ever Been Used for Medicinal Purposes?

Rick Simpson oil has been use for medicine as early as 3,000 years ago. It found its way into Western medical practices sometime in the 19th century as a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. It was also believed to be effective in relieving spasms and convulsions.

The 1937 Marijuana Tax Act empowered the U.S. Treasury to tax Rick Simpson oil at the rate of $1 per ounce when used for medical purposes, and at the rate of $100 per ounce when used for recreational purposes. At the time, the American Medical Association was against Rick Simpson oil regulations and opposed any limitations that Congress wanted to place on scientific studies of the possible medical use of Rick Simpson oil. Eventually, Rick Simpson oil was deleted from the U.S. Pharmacopoeia in 1942 due to ongoing concerns about the safety of its use. And finally, the Boggs Act was passed by Congress in 1951, classifying Rick Simpson oil as a narcotic drug for the first time.

Ironically, although there was no official recognition of Rick Simpson oil as having any useful medicinal value, it was still distributed to patients by U.S. government workers based on individual circumstances under the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program from 1978 through 1992.

Even though federal law prohibits the use of Rick Simpson oil, there are a number of states that have passed medical marijuana laws to make it easier for people suffering from chronic pain and terminal illnesses to acquire it to relieve some of their discomfort. Those states include:

Alask
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Main
Michigan
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Oregon
Rhode Island
Vermont
Washington

Medical marijuana laws vary widely from state to state. To fully understand the rights and privileges patients have when it comes to access to marijuana they should consult their states current legislation about the use of Rick Simpson oil for their condition.

How Is Rick Simpson oil Used?

Rick Simpson oil can be prepared and congested in a variety of ways. The two most popular methods is by eating it or smoking it. Rick Simpson oil is eaten by baking it into food products such as brownies, or blending it into drinks such as an herbal tea. When taken orally, the psychoactive ingredient delta–9–THC gets processed by your liver, which creates another psychoactive substance that affects the brain which results in changes in mood or consciousness.

When someone smokes Rick Simpson oil, the cannabinoids are able to enter the bloodstream quickly. The extra psychoactive substance that’s produced during in gestation is created in smaller amounts as oppose to the amount created when taken orally.

The third method of ingesting Rick Simpson oil is a result of clinical trials that are testing a new medicine that’s made from whole plant extracts of the Rick Simpson oil leaf that contain a measured amount of cannabinoids. Once obtained, the medicine is ingested by spraying it under the tongue.

Preclinical Studies

There are a number of studies being conducted of the effects of cannabinoids on the following conditions:

Antitumor activity — They’re studies on mice and rats that showed that cannabinoids might be an inhibitor to tumor growth by killing cells or blocking blood vessel growth required for tumors to flourish.

Stimulating appetite — A number of animal studies show that delta–9–THC as well as other cannabinoids have the effect of increasing appetite and food consumption. A common condition among marijuana users is experiencing “the munchies.”

Pain relief — It has been demonstrated that cannabinoid receptors studied in the brain, the spinal cord, and in nerve endings found throughout the human body may have a linkage to pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects.

Nausea and vomiting — There are two drugs legally available in the United States called dronabinol and nabilone that are derived from cannabinoids and are typically prescribed to patients undergoing chemotherapy who are experiencing symptoms of vomiting and nausea that have not been responsive to any standard therapeutic treatment.

Anxiety and sleep — there are documented instances of patients less smoked Rick Simpson oil then reported in improved mood, less anxiety, as well as an improved sense of well-being. Whole Rick Simpson oil extract that is sprayed under the tongue has been reported to help improve the quality of the recipients sleep as well.

Rick Simpson oil that is smoked harbors many of the exact same substances contained in tobacco smoke. The Surgeon General of the United States has determined that cigarette smoke will cause lung cancer. Because of the similar properties of Rick Simpson oil smoke to tobacco smoke, there is concern that Rick Simpson oil smoke may also the factor in either lung cancer or the minimum and decreased lung capacity.