BY RUTH HILL R.N.
When Charlette Figi died of COVID on April 7, 2020, the then-governor of Colorado Jared Polis, commemorated April 7th as Charlette Figi Day to mark the day this child revolutionized the cannabis industry. She miraculously recovered from Dravet Syndrome by ingesting cannabis. Dravet Syndrome, previously called severe myoclonic epilepsy, is a terminal childhood syndrome resistant to pharmaceuticals. It begins in infancy and progresses to more and more frequent seizures. In Charlotte Figi’s situation, she experienced up to 300 grand mal seizures a week by her 5th birthday. The financial, medical, and emotional stress of the 24-hour care required is unimaginable.
Charlotte’s mom, Paige, exhausted from watching her beautiful child experience seizures lasting 5-10 minutes, decided to investigate marijuana oil/cannabis in 2012. After Paige gave Charlotte her first dose of high cannabinoid (CBD) and low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), she noticed Charlotte did not have a seizure that day or night. The strain of cannabis she ingested was “Hippie’s Disappointment.” Because of Charlotte’s response, this strain is now called “Charlotte’s Web” for her name’s sake. Her story, revealed in the CNN documentary, changed Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s view on the medicinal benefits of cannabis and launched our country and the World into awareness for treating childhood seizures with cannabis. Charlotte became the face of healing for children.
The Figi family’s experience blazed the trail that inspired pediatric doctors to accept the benefits of this miracle plant. The first legal use of cannabis in Mexico, a country riddled with drug lords, illegal drug distribution, and death, was for “CBD for childhood seizures.” Charlotte’s Web, the brand name of Stanly Brother’s proprietary hemp extraction, has less than 0.3% THC.
Charlotte’s story inspired Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL), a GOP champion for broad marijuana reform on Capitol Hill, to change his views on medical cannabis and successfully pass cannabis legislation in Florida. Due to the passage of the Farm Bill in 2018, Charlotte’s Web and other CBD products became legal.
Many CBD products out there are used for seizures, but they cannot claim the name Charlotte’s Web. Children who do not respond to a cannabis product devoid of THC can use ratios of CBD:THC 18:1 or 20:1. Remember both hemp and marijuana are cannabis. The difference between hemp and marijuana is hemp contains 0.3% THC. The hemp legalized by the Farm Bill contains less than 0.3% THC.
Much confusion exists over cannabis labeling. Cannabis has over 500 ingredients. Hemp products are cannabis that has only 0.3% THC. Broad-spectrum products are when the plant is taken apart and then put back together minus the THC. An isolate is just a molecule of cannabidiol. Products with an isolate do not contain the terpenes, and enzymes of the cannabis flower. Gummies, chocolate, tea bags, and drinks are the products that contain only the isolate cannabinoids. Some researchers feel that 70% of users require THC to obtain a therapeutic dose.
Thus, Charlotte became the poster child for cannabis triggering a pharmaceutical race to produce the first FDA-approved biosynthetic cannabis made from the cannabis plant with the THC extracted. The cost is $32,000/year and is called Epidiolex. It comes in a 120ml bottle. The potency is 100mg/ml. According to WellEx.com Costco, Ralphs, CVS, Walgreens, Vons, and Savon, all cover the cost with a $1600-$1800 coupon. Medicaid and some insurances have only a $25 copay.
Currently in the US cannabis is available to children with seizures depending on their zip code. Pediatricians are not rushing to prescribe Epidiolex, leaving many children to suffer with ineffective pharmaceuticals. Mothers living in a cannabis desert state, risk losing their children if they dare to obtain cannabis from another state. If the country of Mexico can make cannabis for childhood seizures available to everyone why can’t the US Federal Government make this plant available to everyone? It is time in this election year to demand your legislators vote for legalizing cannabis.
For questions/comments go to hilruth@gmail.com.
