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How a Canadian power engineer's search for relief became the foundation of the Rick Simpson Oil movement, sparking debates over cannabis medicine, patient access and unproven cancer-treatment claims.
Before RSO, There Was a Power Engineer
Before becoming associated with cannabis oil, Rick Simpson worked as a power engineer in Canadian hospital maintenance.
His work involved mechanical systems, boilers and technical problem-solving.
There was no cannabis brand or medical movement behind his name.
That changed after a workplace accident.
1997: The Accident That Changed His Life
In 1997, Simpson was working in a poorly ventilated boiler room when fumes from spray adhesive reportedly caused him to collapse.
He fell from a ladder and struck his head against steel.
The injury left him experiencing tinnitus, vertigo and post-concussion symptoms.
According to Simpson, conventional medications failed to provide adequate relief.
He began using cannabis and reported that it helped manage symptoms he had struggled to control.
That experience changed the direction of his life.
How Did Rick Simpson Discover Cannabis Oil?
Simpson began researching cannabis extraction and encountered D. Gold's book Cannabis Alchemy.
The publication introduced him to concentrated cannabis oil.
By 1999, Simpson had begun making his own full-extract cannabis oil.
His interest was initially personal, driven by his experience with persistent symptoms after the workplace accident.
But another health concern would eventually bring his methods much greater attention.
The 2003 Cancer Claim
In 2003, Simpson said he developed basal cell carcinoma on his nose and cheek.
According to his account, he applied homemade cannabis extract to the affected areas beneath bandages.
He later claimed the lesions had disappeared.
That experience became central to the story behind Phoenix Tears, the name associated with his cannabis oil advocacy.
However, Simpson's personal account does not establish that cannabis oil cured skin cancer.
There is no adequate clinical evidence demonstrating that RSO cures cancer in humans, and suspected skin cancers require appropriate medical evaluation and treatment.
The Years of Giving Oil Away
Between 2004 and 2009, Simpson cultivated cannabis and produced concentrated oil for people who approached him seeking help.
He described the work as charitable.
According to Simpson, he did not sell the oil, set prices or accept payment.
Testimonials from recipients began circulating, contributing to growing interest in his approach.
Those stories helped establish his reputation within the medical cannabis movement, although testimonials could not independently establish medical effectiveness.
The Police Raids and Court Case
Simpson's cultivation activities brought him into conflict with Canadian authorities.
In 2005, police reportedly seized more than 1,600 cannabis plants.
The legal consequences continued into 2007, when Simpson faced a court proceeding connected to his cannabis activities.
According to the account, testimony from patients was not permitted.
He was found guilty and received a $2,000 fine, without imprisonment.
The judge reportedly acknowledged Simpson's humanitarian intentions, even though those intentions did not make his cannabis activities lawful.
Why Did Simpson Leave Canada?
Simpson continued encountering legal pressure.
In 2013, he left Canada and eventually settled in Croatia, where he continued speaking about cannabis oil internationally.
His public advocacy continued until 2018, when a stroke significantly reduced his public involvement.
His wife, Danijela, now manages his digital presence.
According to the family's stated position, Simpson does not sell cannabis oil or authorize representatives to sell it in other countries.
That distinction matters because RSO products are now sold commercially by companies unrelated to him.
What Is Rick Simpson Oil?
Rick Simpson Oil, commonly called RSO, refers to a concentrated, full-extract cannabis oil associated with Simpson's approach.
It differs from purified THC distillate because it retains a broader mixture of extracted cannabis compounds.
Simpson traditionally emphasized high-THC indica cannabis.
His original approach involved hydrocarbon solvents, while modern commercial full-spectrum extracts may use different processing methods.
The term RSO has since become a broad retail category, and products carrying the name do not necessarily follow Simpson's original specifications.
The Controversial 90-Day Protocol
Simpson promoted a 90-day regimen involving approximately 60 grams of cannabis oil, with consumption gradually increased over time.
He favored indica-derived oil, arguing that it was less likely to cause overwhelming anxiety than some sativa-derived products.
He also promoted claims involving cancer-cell death and suppression of blood-vessel growth.
Although cannabinoids are being studied for various biological effects, these mechanisms have not established RSO as a proven cancer treatment.
High-THC oil can also produce significant adverse effects and drug interactions.
Simpson's protocol should therefore be understood as part of his advocacy history, not as a medically validated cancer-treatment regimen.
From Phoenix Tears to Dispensary Shelves
RSO eventually became a recognizable cannabis product category.
Dispensaries now sell full-extract oils under the RSO name, often without any direct connection to Simpson.
What began as one man's personal health story developed into a substantial commercial market.
That transformation also created a contradiction.
Simpson emphasized giving oil away, while the industry later turned his name into a retail label.
Legacy
Rick Simpson's influence extends beyond the cannabis oil that bears his name.
His experiences became part of a larger movement demanding broader access to cannabis-based products.
His story also illustrates the importance of separating personal testimony from established medical evidence.
Patients reported benefits, and Simpson believed strongly in his approach, but his cancer claims remain unproven.
The legacy of RSO is both a story of cannabis activism and a reminder that hope, access and scientific evidence are not the same thing.
This story is supported by Great Smoky Cannabis Company. Sponsorship does not influence Nugg Notes’ editorial research or conclusions.
greatsmokycannabisco.com · @greatsmokyc
Sources
Simpson, Rick. Phoenix Tears: The Rick Simpson Story. Simpson RamaDur, 2013. Primary source. Simpson's autobiographical account of his hospital employment, 1997 workplace accident, cannabis experimentation, reported skin-cancer experience, cultivation activities and legal struggles. Essential for establishing his chronology and distinguishing his personal testimony from independently verified facts.
Simpson, Rick. "Contact." Phoenix Tears, phoenixtears.ca/contact/. Official primary source. Confirms the 2004 website launch, free distribution of oil until the final 2009 police raid, relocation to Europe in 2013, and Simpson's stated lack of affiliation with commercial RSO suppliers.
"'He's a Healer, Not a Dealer: Rick Simpson's 'Cannabis Cures' Crusade." Cannabis Culture, 9 Feb. 2008, www.cannabisculture.com/content/2008/02/09/5159/. Contemporary reporting. Reproduces coverage from the Halifax Chronicle-Herald documenting the August 2005 seizure of 1,190 cannabis plants, Simpson's 2007 conviction, his free distribution of oil, and the judge's acknowledgment of his altruistic intentions.
Gold, D. Cannabis Alchemy: The Art of Modern Hashmaking. Ronin Publishing, 1993. Historical source. Documents cannabis extraction methods that Simpson reportedly studied before developing his own oil. The revised 1993 edition helps establish the extraction literature available before RSO became widely recognized.
National Cancer Institute. "Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ®): Health Professional Version." National Cancer Institute, www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/cannabis-pdq. Medical research source. Reviews clinical and preclinical cannabinoid research, potential therapeutic effects, drug interactions and the absence of adequate clinical evidence supporting concentrated cannabis oil as a cancer cure.
Braun, Ilana M., et al. "Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Adults With Cancer: ASCO Guideline." Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2024, doi:10.1200/JCO.23.02596. Peer-reviewed clinical guidance. Establishes the distinction between potential symptom management and treating cancer itself. The American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends against substituting cannabis or cannabinoids for established cancer treatment.
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