Last verified: March 2026

The Stanley Brothers

The Stanley Brothers — seven siblings who entered medical cannabis in 2009 — developed a high-CBD, low-THC cannabis strain they initially called "Hippie's Disappointment" because its low THC content meant recreational users had no interest in it. What seemed like a commercial failure turned into one of the most consequential cannabis stories in American history.

Charlotte Figi

In 2012, the Stanley Brothers connected with Paige Figi, whose daughter Charlotte suffered from Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. Charlotte experienced up to 300 grand mal seizures per week — an almost unimaginable burden for a child and her family. Conventional medications had failed.

CBD oil from the Stanley Brothers' strain reduced Charlotte's seizures to 2–3 per month. The result was so dramatic that the strain was renamed Charlotte's Web in her honor.

The CNN Documentary That Changed America

In 2013, Dr. Sanjay Gupta featured Charlotte's story in his landmark CNN documentary "Weed," publicly reversing his previous stance on medical cannabis. The documentary catalyzed a national movement. Overnight, Charlotte's Web became a household name, and the concept of CBD — cannabis without the "high" — entered mainstream consciousness.

Over 500 families moved to Colorado as "medical refugees" to access CBD for their children with seizure disorders. The term "medical refugees" entered the national vocabulary, and other states scrambled to pass CBD-specific laws.

The Company

Charlotte's Web Inc. became the #1 hemp-based CBD brand nationally and went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange. At its peak, the company's shares traded at $21.90. The brand's reputation for quality and its founding story gave it credibility that few CBD companies could match.

Charlotte's Legacy

Charlotte Figi passed away on April 7, 2020, at age 13. Governor Polis declared the date Charlotte Figi Day in Colorado. Her story remains one of the most powerful arguments for medical cannabis access and directly influenced the passage of CBD-specific laws across the country, including the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp-derived CBD nationally.

The company has struggled financially since, with shares falling to roughly $0.22 — a reflection of the broader challenges facing the CBD market, including oversaturation, FDA regulatory uncertainty, and competition from lower-quality products.