The Story of Charlotte Figi: How CBD Changed Forever

There are stories that change everything, like that of Charlotte Figi. This little girl changed the world's perception of CBD. Through her battle with a rare form of epilepsy, she paved the way for a medical and human revolution.

Things to remember

• Charlotte inspired the creation of the famous Charlotte's Web strain, a pioneer in therapeutic CBD.
• His story has propelled cannabidiol to the forefront of international medical and political debate.
• His legacy continues to influence research and legislation far beyond the United States.

Charlotte Figi: a little girl fighting an impossible disease

Charlotte Figi was born in 2006 in Colorado to a close-knit and loving family. Very early on, there was something different about this little girl. At three months old, she had her first epileptic seizure. Then others followed, becoming longer and more violent.

Doctors eventually diagnosed her with Dravet syndrome, a severe and treatment-resistant form of epilepsy. At age five, Charlotte was experiencing up to 300 tonic-clonic seizures per week. Her family's life revolved around hospitals and dashed hopes.

When all seems lost

Conventional treatments fail and cause serious side effects. However, Paige, Charlotte's mother, refuses to give up. She searches forums, medical publications, and testimonials from parents of children with epilepsy. And that's when she discovers three letters: CBD.

At the time, cannabidiol was almost taboo. It was still confused with recreational cannabis, and few doctors dared to recommend it. But Paige saw a glimmer of hope and got in touch with the Stanley Brothers, a pair of Colorado farmers passionate about hemp with high CBD content.

A game-changing encounter

Together, they developed a strain rich in cannabidiol, with virtually no THC. And for Charlotte, it was the promise of a new beginning.

Within a few weeks, the seizures decreased dramatically. They went from several hundred to just two or three per month. Charlotte also regained her reflexes, mobility, and speech.

The Stanleys then renamed their strain: Charlotte's Web. A legend was born, and with it, the first great symbol of modern medical CBD.

When a story turns the world upside down

The story could have remained a local anecdote, but in 2013, Sanjay Gupta, a renowned neurologist and CNN journalist, recounted it in the documentary Weed.

This report had the impact of an earthquake, and the images of Charlotte, now at peace after years of suffering, moved the entire planet. For many, it was the first time they had heard about CBD in a different light.

Families of sick children are flocking to Colorado. They are known as medical refugees, and they all hope to obtain the same miraculous oil for their children.

The birth of a cult brand

The Stanley Brothers rode this wave of hope and structured their production. They created Charlotte's Web CBD, a company dedicated to the cultivation and extraction of oils from industrial hemp. 

They want to provide products that are rich in CBD and low in THC, accessible to those who need them.

The brand quickly became a global benchmark for CBD, but beyond the business aspect, Charlotte's Web represents the symbol of cannabis that heals, soothes, and brings people together.

Political and medical influence

Thanks to Charlotte, the debate on CBD is finally moving out of the margins. In 2018, the US Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp (less than 0.3% THC) at the federal level. Cannabidiol officially became legal.

The impact extends beyond America's borders: in Europe, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands are beginning to reconsider their positions on CBD.

Charlotte's family and the Stanley Brothers also established the Realm of Caring Foundation. Its mission is to support families, fund research, and provide reliable information on cannabinoid-based products. Ten years later, the organization has helped more than 70,000 people worldwide.

Charlotte, without knowing it, started a quiet revolution, that of a molecule long demonized, which has now become a hope for healing.

Legacy, controversies, and posterity

Charlotte's case, as moving as it is, remains an individual example. We don't know everything about cannabidiol. Some researchers point out that we must remain cautious, as the results observed in one child are not enough to prove universal effectiveness.

But the impact is there. Thanks to her, clinical trials on CBD and epilepsy are multiplying. In 2018, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved Epidiolex, a purified CBD-based drug. This is a historic first, directly inspired by the Figi case.

A living memory

On April 7, 2020, Charlotte passed away at the age of 13, victim of a respiratory infection, and her death moved the entire world. Colorado declared this date Charlotte Figi Day, in tribute to her courage and her legacy.

Her story gave meaning to the fight for a more humane approach to cannabis. She reminded us that a molecule is not defined by its reputation, but by what we do with it.

And we, at Cali Weed, maintain that energy: the energy of a movement that rejects dogma, believes in the freedom to treat differently, and celebrates the power of gentle, authentic, and deeply human hemp!