Charlotte Figi: The Story That Transformed the CBD Industry
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Time to read 3 min
What she went through has transformed the CBD industry, transforming it from a stigmatized substance into an inspiring molecule and a source of hope. Charlotte Figi helped change attitudes, research and legislation surrounding CBD.
Contents
Born in Colorado in the United States in 2006, Charlotte Figi began experiencing epileptic seizures at a very young age. Doctors diagnosed her with Dravet syndrome, a rare form of childhood epilepsy, a severe, treatment-resistant form.
Her life quickly becomes extremely difficult—a living nightmare for a little girl who cannot lead a normal life, with multiple seizures that can reach up to 300 per week !
Her parents try all sorts of things to help her, including medication, acupuncture, a special diet and innovative therapies... But nothing helps. The condition resists every treatment they try. Some seizures overwhelm her so severely that she cannot even breathe.
In 2011, Charlotte is 5 years old. Her condition is critical, with her seizures still just as frequent. Desperate and exhausted, her parents search for every possible solution.
One day, her father, Matt Figi, finds a lead online: cases of children with epilepsy who had reportedly been treated with cannabis high in CBD and low in THC. The treatment was said to have worked for these children.
Despite the limited experience and evidence available, as well as their own lack of knowledge about CBD, Charlotte Figi's parents ultimately decide to try the treatment for their daughter. Almost as a last resort.
At the time, this non-psychoactive cannabinoid remains largely unknown as a legal alternative.
Charlotte is therefore given CBD, an extract from medicinal hemp flowers. At last, she can go a whole day without a seizure! After a few weeks, the results are impressive: from 300 epileptic seizures per week—that is, almost 2 seizures a day—she now experiences only around one per week.
Thanks to CBD, Charlotte can then live a more normal life: going for walks, eating on her own, playing, talking, riding a bike and more.
It is an enormous upheaval for her, her family and the medical community, leading to a turning point in the history of CBD in both research and legislation!
Charlotte's dramatic change in daily life catches the attention of the American media. Her story airs on CNN, sparking sudden interest in CBD around the world.
Attitudes shifted and questions sparked new thinking… Hemp was no longer associated solely with recreational use; it became a legitimate subject of scientific interest. Researchers began taking a closer look at CBD to study its anticonvulsant properties
From a legal perspective, several US states, including Colorado, began to reconsider their cannabis laws from 2014 onwards, with a view to making them less restrictive.
Charlotte Figi’s story had a worldwide impact on CBD. It transformed perceptions of cannabidiol. Several countries, including France, began studying this cannabinoid more closely. Studies, laboratories, clinical trials and more set a wider movement of research and testing in motion. Other families facing conditions similar to Charlotte Figi’s also wanted to try this treatment.
Scientific studies began to yield results: CBD could interact with the endocannabinoid system by modulating the brain’s electrical activity. This could reduce the neuronal discharges that cause epileptic seizures.
The year 2018 marked a historic milestone. Epidiolex, a medication containing purified CBD, was approved. It was the first medication of its kind to receive approval, particularly for Dravet syndrome.
Charlotte Figi became a symbol of this major turning point in the history of the CBD industry. Her story highlights the importance of CBD research in gaining a better understanding of its potential effects. Thanks to her, CBD gained a new standing in scientific research and around the world.
A variety of CBD flower was even named in honour of Charlotte: Charlotte’s Web.
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Benjamin Poirel-Nadal
Passionate about alternative lifestyles and plants with natural benefits, Benjamin Poirel-Nadal is a writer and creative specialising in CBD and well-being. Drawing on extensive experience in communications, he takes a close look at how hemp is used, the latest industry innovations and users’ experiences. His approach? Combining expertise, clarity and curiosity to make the world of cannabidiol easier to understand, more practical and more inspiring. His goal: to help you make informed choices about using CBD, simply and confidently 🌱
