Charlotte Figi (October 18, 2006 – April 7, 2020) was an American girl with

Dravet syndrome Dravet syndrome (DS), previously known as severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (SMEI), is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder which causes a catastrophic form of epilepsy, with prolonged seizures that are often triggered by hot temperatures o ...

, who took

cannabidiol Cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid, one of 113 identified cannabinoids in ''Cannabis'', along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and accounts for up to 40% of the plant's extract. Medically, it is an anticonvulsant used to treat multiple f ...

(CBD) oil to prevent seizures, and inspired the name of the

medical cannabis Medical cannabis, medicinal cannabis or medical marijuana (MMJ) refers to cannabis products and cannabinoid molecules that are prescribed by physicians for their patients. The use of cannabis as medicine has a long history, but has not ...

strain

Charlotte's Web ''Charlotte's Web'' is a book of children's literature by American author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams. It was published on October 15, 1952, by Harper & Brothers. It tells the story of a livestock pig named Wilbur and his frie ...

Life

Figi was born on October 18, 2006, with a

twin Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.MedicineNet > Definition of Twin Last Editorial Review: 19 June 2000 Twins can be either ''monozygotic'' ('identical'), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two ...

sister, to parents Paige and Matt Figi. At 3 months old, she had her first

seizure A seizure is a sudden, brief disruption of brain activity caused by abnormal, excessive, or synchronous neuronal firing. Depending on the regions of the brain involved, seizures can lead to changes in movement, sensation, behavior, awareness, o ...

. Due to her Dravet syndrome, at age five, she used a wheelchair, had up to 300 grand mal seizures a week, and had trouble speaking. In 2012, Figi's mother searched for CBD marijuana oil for her daughter's treatment. Figi began taking oil from the marijuana strain, "Hippie's Disappointment," which contained low THC, and was later renamed

. With the use of Charlotte's Web, Figi experienced an immediate reduction in her epileptic seizures, down from 300 a week to two or three per month. While the use of

medical marijuana Medical cannabis, medicinal cannabis or medical marijuana (MMJ) refers to Cannabis (drug), cannabis products and cannabinoid, cannabinoid molecules that are prescription drug, prescribed by physicians for their patients. The use of cannabi ...

was still illegal in many states, news of Figi's success spread and families with similar diagnoses started moving to Colorado Springs, where the drug was originally sold. Because of her story, she also gained worldwide notice and media attention. In 2013, she was the subject of the CNN documentary ''Weed'' by

Sanjay Gupta Sanjay Gupta (born October 23, 1969) is an American neurosurgeon, medical reporter, and writer. He serves as associate chief of the neurosurgery service at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, associate professor of neurosurgery at ...

. She became a well-known figure in the U.S. and international medical marijuana movement and her story helped support U.S. legislation on medical marijuana. In 2019, Figi was the first child featured on a cover of ''

High Times ''High Times'' was an American monthly magazine (and cannabis brand) that advocates the legalization of cannabis as well as other counterculture ideas. The magazine was founded in 1974 by Tom Forcade. The magazine had its own book publishing d ...

''. In April 2020, Figi was hospitalized with

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

, which then caused seizures,

respiratory failure Respiratory failure results from inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, meaning that the arterial oxygen, carbon dioxide, or both cannot be kept at normal levels. A drop in the oxygen carried in the blood is known as hypoxemia; a r ...

, and

cardiac arrest Cardiac arrest (also known as sudden cardiac arrest CA is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When the heart stops beating, blood cannot properly Circulatory system, circulate around the body and the blood flow to the ...

. She died on April 7, 2020, at the age of 13. According to her mother, Figi was admitted to the hospital and tested negative for

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

on April 3 and was "treated as a likely COVID-19 case" when later readmitted to the hospital. * *

Legacy

Colorado Governor

Jared Polis Jared Schutz Polis ( ; ; born May 12, 1975) is an American politician and businessman serving as the 43rd governor of Colorado since 2019. He served one term on the Colorado State Board of Education from 2001 to 2007, and five terms as the Unite ...

proclaimed April 7 "Charlotte Figi Day" in

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Figi, Charlotte 2006 births 2020 deaths 21st-century American women American people with disabilities American children Cannabis in Colorado Deaths from epilepsy People with epilepsy Neurological disease deaths in Colorado People from Colorado Springs, Colorado Place of birth missing Child deaths

Life

Legacy

See also

References