Cannabis oil is a full-spectrum product derived from the cannabis plant. Cannabis oil is different from CBD oil in that, while CBD oil is typically made from industrial hemp, cannabis oil is made from cannabis which contains THC. Therefore, cannabis oil can only legally be purchased in states where medical marijuana or recreational marijuana is legal.

A Little Bit of History Regarding Cannabis

Believe it or not, there was a time in American history when cannabis was completely legal. During the nineteenth century, cannabis oil was one of the most used medicines in the United States. It was prescribed for a variety of ailments, including pain, insomnia, and migraines. Surprisingly enough, these are many of the same ailments that are common motivators for medical marijuana users today.

Criminalization

Two main factors really drove the nails into the coffin of legal cannabis. The first and often ignored cause of cannabis’ criminalization was the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. While this act didn’t make cannabis illegal, the requirements placed on the labeling of medicines largely ended the era of patent medicines in the United States. Cannabis oils had become closely associated with patent medicines, and sadly, cannabis oil quickly came to be used far less than only a few years ago. The second factor was racism. While the use of cannabis oil was largely associated with patent medicines, cannabis smoking was associated with Mexicans, Jazz musicians, and others who were generally considered “undesirables” in early twentieth-century America.

Rediscovery

While we’re all familiar with Cannabis smoking’s association with the hippie movement of the 1960s, it was a Canadian named Rick Simpson who really brought cannabis oil back into the limelight. In 2003, Rick Simpson was diagnosed with skin cancer. Having recently read an article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute demonstrating THC’s ability to kill cancer cells, Simpson used some very basic home chemistry to produce a highly concentrated cannabis oil and applied it to the cancerous spots that had recently appeared on his arms. A few days later, Simpson removed the bandages to find that the cancerous spots on his arms were completely gone! Thus, Rick Simpson made it his life’s mission to reintroduce cannabis oil to the public. In fact, cannabis oil produced by alcohol extraction is still, to this day, referred to as “Rick Simpson Oil.”

How is Cannabis Oil Used

Cannabis oil is today one of the most popular cannabis products, aside from smokable cannabis buds. It can be produced in several ways, including industrial solvent, alcohol, and CO2 extraction methods. It’s popular with medical patients who use it for the relief it brings from a variety of symptoms, especially pain and insomnia. Cannabis oil has been instrumental in the use of cannabis for the treatment of epilepsy, being very effective at reducing seizures. 

Additionally, cannabis oil sometimes used in the production of cannabis edibles. Of course, in states where recreational marijuana is legal, cannabis oil can also be consumed recreationally, often being vaporized for a much stronger “hit” than can be obtained from smoking cannabis buds.

In conclusion

Cannabis oil is an amazing product. It’s powerful, medically active, and provides benefits that simply cannot be obtained in any other way.