Today, I want to share with you the story of Charlotte Figi, a young girl who changed the way we see medical cannabis. Her battle with a rare form of drug-resistant epilepsy led to a groundbreaking discovery that has impacted millions of lives worldwide.
Charlotte’s story gained media attention in 2013, when her journey showed that, for some patients, cannabis could provide answers where conventional medicine had failed. Charlotte suffered from Dravet Syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that appears in early childhood. Her seizures, sometimes reaching 300 a week, severely affected her health and put an immense strain on her family. Traditional treatments had no success in improving her condition.
The Intervention of Cannabis: A Step Towards Hope
After exhausting every medical option, Charlotte’s parents decided to try a less conventional route: CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause a “high,” but it has shown potential therapeutic benefits for numerous conditions, including epilepsy.
After administering a CBD extract with an extremely high concentration (99%) to Charlotte, her life changed dramatically. The number of seizures dropped significantly, going down to just two per month—an incredible improvement considering she previously had hundreds of seizures each week.
But it wasn’t just the reduction in seizures: Charlotte began to make progress her family never thought possible. She started walking, talking, and interacting with those around her. Her story, although painful, became a symbol of hope for many families facing the challenges of chronic and debilitating diseases.
The Impact of Cannabis on Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
One of the most significant studies following Charlotte’s story was conducted by Dr. Orrin Devinsky, a neurologist at the New York University Langone Medical Center. Devinsky investigated how medical cannabis, particularly CBD, could reduce seizures in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
The study’s results were remarkable. Forty-two percent of patients treated with CBD experienced a significant reduction in seizures, and for 5% of them, seizures completely disappeared. This study confirmed what Charlotte’s family had experienced firsthand: CBD has a powerful anticonvulsant effect.
While CBD treatment is not a definitive cure, it has become a beacon of hope for many families who previously had no other options. Charlotte has become a symbol of this change, and her story has helped push legislators and researchers to seriously consider the therapeutic use of cannabis.
Side Effects and Risks: What We Know
Like any treatment, the use of CBD for epilepsy is not without side effects. One of the most important aspects highlighted by doctors is the need for constant monitoring by healthcare professionals. In clinical trials, patients who received CBD reported side effects such as drowsiness, diarrhea, and fatigue. However, these symptoms are considered minor compared to the benefits observed in controlling seizures.
“I was surprised by the relatively low number of side effects. I believe this data provides further evidence supporting the safety of CBD use, especially in such a vulnerable population as patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.” — Kevin Chapman, Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at the University of Colorado
Although further studies are needed to fully understand the long-term effects of cannabis use in medicine, the results so far are promising. In many countries, including Italy, heated debates are unfolding about how to integrate cannabis into therapies for chronic and debilitating conditions.
Charlotte Figi: A Child, A Global Movement
Charlotte’s story sparked a movement. Her progress inspired many parents to seek alternative solutions for their children with similar conditions. Many families moved to states where medical cannabis is legal, hoping to improve their loved ones’ quality of life.
In this context, medical cannabis has shifted from being a taboo to becoming a possible lifeline for many people. But it’s not just the medical community involved in this change: civil society, legislators, and patient advocacy groups are also pushing for cannabis to be recognized as a therapeutic resource rather than a threat.
Paige Figi’s Plea to the Community
Charlotte’s mother, Paige Figi, wrote a heartfelt open letter to the Stanley brothers, the cannabis growers who cultivated the plant used to treat her daughter. In the letter, Paige shared the profound change she witnessed in her daughter’s life thanks to cannabis:
“Along with the seizure control, there are many other benefits we’re seeing from using medical cannabis. Charlotte is finally living the life she deserves: she plays, smiles, and interacts with others. She is no longer a prisoner of the disease.”
Charlotte Figi’s story is a powerful example of how science, alternative medicine, and a family’s determination can make a difference. Thanks to her parents’ courage and the support of the scientific community, Charlotte has become a symbol of the therapeutic power of cannabis.
If you’re looking for cannabis-derived products, visit our CBD section for more information.
