Run From the Cure, Safety Concerns, and Safer Modern Alternatives
Many people arrive at this page after watching Run From the Cure — the film that introduced Rick Simpson and his cannabis oil to a global audience.
After seeing the documentary, it’s natural for viewers to search for how Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is made. What they often encounter instead is a mix of outdated advice, unsafe solvent methods, and conflicting claims.
This page exists to explain Rick Simpson Oil in context — where the idea came from, what the original approach involved, why safety matters, and how thinking around cannabis oils has evolved since the documentary was released.
This is an educational cornerstone page, not a step-by-step guide.
Important note on safety and scope
This page discusses Rick Simpson Oil from a historical and informational perspective only.
It does not provide instructions, measurements, temperatures, or advice on making cannabis extracts. Solvent extraction carries serious fire and health risks and may be illegal depending on where you live.
Nothing on this page should be taken as medical advice.
Rick Simpson and Run From the Cure
Rick Simpson is a Canadian cannabis activist who became widely known in the early 2000s after publicly sharing his belief that a concentrated cannabis oil had helped him following a serious health diagnosis.
His story reached a much wider audience with the release of Run From the Cure, a documentary that follows Rick as he explains his views, shows examples of people using cannabis oil, and criticises institutional resistance to cannabis.
For many viewers, the film was their first exposure to high-potency cannabis extracts, and it sparked widespread interest in what later became known as Rick Simpson Oil.
Why people search for the “method” after the documentary
Run From the Cure was not intended as a technical manual. However, by showing the oil and discussing its use without technical detail or safety framing, it led many viewers to assume that making the oil was:
- Straightforward
- Low risk
- Easily reproducible at home
In reality, much of the information that circulated online afterwards came from forums and early internet guides that rarely addressed safety, legality, or chemical risk.
Understanding this context is essential when revisiting Rick Simpson Oil today.
Why Rick Simpson often uses the word “hemp”
Another common point of confusion for viewers of Run From the Cure is Rick Simpson’s use of the word “hemp”.
In modern legal and scientific language, hemp usually refers to cannabis containing very low levels of THC. Rick’s language reflects historical and political usage, not modern classification.
Rick has long argued that all cannabis plants belong to the same family and that the term hemp was widely used before prohibition reshaped public understanding of the plant.
When Rick refers to “hemp oil”, he is not referring to modern low-THC industrial hemp, CBD products, or hemp seed oil. He is referring to high-THC cannabis flower (psychoactive cannabis).
This distinction matters. Rick Simpson Oil cannot be made from today’s industrial hemp, despite the terminology used in earlier materials.
The core idea behind Rick Simpson Oil (not a recipe)
Rick Simpson Oil is based on a whole-plant extraction philosophy:
- Use high-THC cannabis flower
- Extract a broad range of cannabinoids and plant compounds
- Produce a thick, concentrated oil rather than a refined isolate
Historically, this involved using a liquid solvent to dissolve cannabinoids from plant material, followed by evaporation of that solvent to leave behind a dense extract.
This approach reflects early, informal extraction practices, developed long before modern cannabis regulation, lab testing, or safety standards.
Solvent extraction and real-world risks
Many early RSO guides referenced solvents such as:
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Naphtha or petroleum distillates
- Other industrial chemicals
These substances were never intended for ingestion. Even when evaporated, improper handling can leave residues behind. More critically, solvent vapours are highly flammable, and numerous fires and injuries worldwide have been linked to home extraction attempts.
These risks were rarely acknowledged in early material, but they are now well recognised.
What about food-grade alcohol?
Some people argue that high-proof, food-grade ethanol (such as 190-proof alcohol) is safer than industrial solvents.
While food-grade ethanol is designed for human consumption when diluted, it remains:
- Extremely flammable
- Hazardous when heated or mishandled
- Unsuitable for casual or untrained home extraction
Using food-grade alcohol does not remove the risks associated with solvent extraction — it only changes the type of risk involved.
A safer shift: non-solvent cannabis oils
As awareness of extraction risks has grown, many people now look toward non-solvent approaches that avoid volatile chemicals entirely.
One such approach is cannabis oil infusion, where cannabinoids are transferred into a carrier oil without the use of industrial solvents.
Infused oils are not the same as Rick Simpson Oil, but they reflect a modern harm-reduction mindset and avoid many of the dangers associated with solvent extraction.
Cannabis oil is not a cure-all
It’s important to be clear.
Cannabis oils — whether solvent-based or infused — are not a universal cure. Research into cannabinoids is ongoing, complex, and highly individual. Responses vary depending on the person, the condition, and broader medical factors.
No cannabis preparation should replace professional medical care or diagnosis.
Legal context (UK & Northern Ireland)
In the UK and Northern Ireland, cannabis extraction remains illegal outside licensed medical or research frameworks.
This includes the production of cannabis oils, regardless of method. Anyone researching this topic should understand the legal context before engaging with cannabis processing.
Why this page remains online
Many people continue to search for Rick Simpson Oil after watching Run From the Cure. Removing the topic entirely would likely push readers toward older, less responsible sources.
This page exists to provide context, clarity, and modern safety awareness, rather than encouraging unsafe practices.
