- Jennifer Betz
What's the Difference Between FECO and RSO? A Guide for VA Marijuana Card Holders
Virginia Marijuana Card answers your questions about FECO and RSO
Virginia dispensaries are getting an expanded selection of products on their shelves for 2021, including vape pens and cartridges, topicals, edibles, tinctures, and full extract cannabis oil (FECO). Patients who qualify for a medical marijuana card in VA want to know everything about what’s available to them, and lots of people are asking, “What’s the difference between FECO and RSO?”
Keep reading to get a better understanding of the difference between FECO and RSO, which conditions they help the most, and how to use them.
FECO and RSO—What’s the Difference?
FECO and RSO (also known as Rick Simpson Oil) are both robust extracts made from raw cannabis, containing a potent concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes. Using raw cannabis results in more nutrients being preserved in their original form (including THC-A), and the finished product is thick, dark, sticky, pungent and often very high in THC.
The main difference between FECO and RSO is the solution used for extraction. RSO is made by soaking plant material in 99 percent isopropyl alcohol. It’s of utmost importance that processors are diligent about removing all traces of the solvent before being distributed for consumption, because isopropyl alcohol is dangerous to ingest.
FECO is made with grain alcohol, which is safer to ingest. Once the medicinal properties are collected in the solution, the alcohol is evaporated either by gently heating the product or by letting it stand at room temperature until only the pure extract is left.
What are FECO and RSO Used For?
Because of their high levels of potency, FECO and RSO are both generally used for more severe conditions that are unresponsive to lower doses of THC.
Most people use these products to treat symptoms related to cancer, severe intractable pain, and wasting diseases. It can also be used to help alleviate the most extreme symptoms connected to persistent PTSD and anxiety.
How Do You Use FECO and RSO?
Both are ingested in the same manner. These extracts are so potent that you will generally only need a dose the size of a grain of rice to get you through your day. If you purchase your product at a Virginia dispensary, then it will come in a syringe. Squeeze out a precisely-measured dose using the plunger to know exactly how much you’re getting every time.
You can take these extracts sublingually, but they have a very pungent odor and flavor that is not for everyone. Most people prefer to add them to their food or beverages, bake them into their favorite brownie recipe, or slip a drop into their lotion to rub on for targeted pain relief.
You should never vape or smoke FECO or RSO unless the product has specifically been made for that purpose. Fortunately, Virginia dispensaries are offering FECO vape cartridges for those who prefer this method for getting their daily dose.
Can You Find FECO or RSO at a Virginia Dispensary?
As of right now, gLeaf is the only producer making FECO. The THC concentration is around 30-ish percent for most products available, and you can find it in a syringe for oral ingestion or a vape for inhaling.
When we visited dispensary websites in May 2021, no RSO was available anywhere. GLeaf’s FECO could be found at the gLeaf dispensary and Columbia Care, but Dharma and Beyond/Hello did not have it.
GLeaf does deliver to a pretty wide geographic area in VA. However, you may have to drive a significant distance for FECO if you live outside of the delivery zone.
The variety of products you can find at VA dispensaries is constantly expanding, and FECO or RSO are likely to become available in more locations in the near future.
Get a Medical Marijuana Card to Enjoy the Therapeutic Benefits of Cannabis
When you have a Virginia marijuana card, you can experiment with all the different formats available at dispensaries, including FECO, vape pens, tinctures and more. Make a convenient telehealth appointment with one of our marijuana doctors today, to start getting the natural relief you deserve!
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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