Charlotte Figi

Charlotte Figi (October 18, 2006 – April 7, 2020) was an American girl with Dravet syndrome, who took cannabidiol (CBD) oil to prevent seizures, and inspired the name of the medical cannabis strain Charlotte's Web.

Life

Figi was born on October 18, 2006, with a twin sister, to parents Paige and Matt Figi. At 3 months old, she had her first seizure.

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, While the use of medical marijuana 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. 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 April 2020, Figi was hospitalized with pneumonia, which then caused seizures, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest. 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 on April 3 and was "treated as a likely COVID-19 case" when later readmitted to the hospital.

Legacy Colorado Governor Jared Polis proclaimed April 7 "Charlotte Figi Day" in Colorado.