Epilepsy Talk

Medical Marijuana — Real Stories from Real People | October 17, 2025

Charlotte Figi was born in Colorado in 2006…

Suffering from a rare form of epilepsy, she had her first seizure just 30 minutes after birth. The seizures increased in intensity and frequency from there onwards.

By the age of two, she was showing signs of severe cognitive decline, similar to the symptoms of Autism. Within a year she had stopped talking, couldn’t eat, and was confined to a wheelchair. She was on seven different types of aggressive medication, which was taking a gruelling toll on her body.

By the time she turned five, she was seizing up to 300 times per week, with individual seizures lasting up to four hours. Her parents had tried everything but it was no use; doctors put her in a medically-induced coma to try and help Charlotte survive. They were not optimistic. A do-not-resuscitate order was signed.

Charlotte became the face of the medical cannabis movement when she was 5 years old, after taking medical cannabis to ease the symptoms of her epilepsy. The results were instantaneous; that first week Charlotte went from 300+ seizures to zero seizures. Her parents realized they had discovered something life-changing.

The result was Charlotte’s Web.

Here are other’s success stories:

“As a military veteran, being treated with Medical Cannabis was the best decision I ever made. I have about 6 medical conditions and I have improved tremendously and in my 4 months I feel better than I did while taking 10 prescriptions a day.” Kisha 

“I have TLE and I use marijuana to help with my seizures. If I feel one coming usually MJ will stop it. Or, if I have a cluster of them, I find that MJ usually will stop them. It overall makes me feel normal and better after having them. But, of course this is not everyone’s experience with it. Just mine!” Anonymous

“I have osteoarthritis and i have been getting by for a long time due to Cannabis. It is truly a life changer and a great option to avoid certain drugs and side effects.” Bobby

“People worry about MM ‘getting them high.’ It has never had that effect on me. I can do my work again — it requires lots of concentration — and perform activities of daily living without being in such agony that I can’t do anything.” Hazel

“I have arthritis and degenerative disc disease. I absolutely feel less back pain since starting medical MJ. It also helps me to be able to sleep better and quit taking sleep meds including ambien. It a wonder drug! Thankfully it is now legal.” Kim

“I have lost over 60 lbs. and have quit drinking to take the pain and depression away. My energy levels are through the roof and my cardiologist loves the weigh loss. I was taking 12 different medications for depression and heart related issues and pain, I only take 8 now.”  Brian K.

“Before cannabis, I was on medication that made me not want to do anything. I just wanted to stay inside and was depressed. I feel very good now. I’m singing all the time, am more creative, and my energy is back. Cannabis really works. It is like a miracle.” Gavin

“I encourage individuals with epilepsy to advocate for themselves and find a supportive doctor who will advocate for them as well. I hid for many years my epilepsy despite being seizure free for years due to the fear I would lose my job and not be able to get my medication to survive. Hiding what I have gone though would only allow the stigma to continue”.  Natalie Boehm — Founder of the Defeating Epilepsy Foundation

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