Pride month has finally arrived, and what’s a better way to honor queer pride than to support cannabis businesses founded by LGBTQIA+ individuals?
Charlotte’s Web, a CBD brand headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, is owned by The Stanley Brothers. Austin Stanley, the youngest of the seven Stanley Brothers, identifies as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The Stanley Brothers founded Charlotte’s Web cannabis strain back in 2011. Since then, the brand has grown into a well-respected business in the cannabis industry. Its mission is to create a trusted hemp extract for anyone and everyone. On their website they write, “The Charlotte’s Web purpose is simple: to unleash the healing powers of botanicals with compassion and science, benefiting the planet and all who live upon it.”
Charlotte Figi: A Namesake
Charlotte’s Web got its name from a little girl by the name of Charlotte Figi, who suffered severe epileptic seizures and used CBD oil from The Stanley Brothers to treat them. According to a 2020 article from Forbes, Figi went from experiencing hundreds of seizures per day to only a few per month. Figi was soon able to sleep, walk, eat, and play all without having a seizure.
Soon after, many families began inquiring about The Stanley Brothers’ CBD extract, and over 15,000 families joined a waitlist for the product. Once Figi’s story began spreading across multiple communities, it ignited a call for cannabidiol to become more easily accessible for those who feel they might benefit from it.
Today, Charlotte’s Web is a hugely popular brand that sells CBD gummies, oils, topicals, capsules, and even canine products that can be ordered directly on their website or found inside select dispensaries.
Possible Seizure Treatment: Charlotte’s Web CBD Oil
Zaki Jackson is another child who suffered daily epileptic seizures. Jackson’s mother researched cannabidiol and started administering Charlotte’s Web CBD to her son after hearing about the success story of the Figi family.
To be able to legally administer the CBD oil to their son, the Jackson family even moved to Colorado from Arizona. They aren’t the only ones to make such a big move for their child’s health. Other families began relocating to Colorado during this time for similar reasons. These families experienced backlash from their communities and family members who bought into the stigma surrounding cannabis users, thinking that cannabidiol was only for getting stoned.
Still, the success stories, like those from the Figi and Jackson families, have helped to destigmatize the use of CBD oil in recent years. Even medical studies and doctors have supported the healing effects of a high CBD and low THC content strain such as the on that Charlotte’s Web sells.
“It doesn’t have a high potential for abuse, and there are very legitimate medical applications,” says Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent. In an article published on CNN’s website, Gupta describes his experience meeting Figi and how his opinions on cannabis have changed. “In fact”, he writes, “sometimes Marijuana is the only thing that works… It is irresponsible not to provide the best care we can as a medical community, care that could involve marijuana. We have been terribly and systematically misled for nearly 70 years in the United States, and I apologize for my own role in that.”
Cannabis for Dogs
Since the popularity of CBD has exploded in recent years, it has become more and more common to see CBD products for species other than humans.
Dogs – and all animals – have Endocannabinoid Systems [ECS] just as people do. The ECS is composed of receptors on cell membranes that help maintain homeostasis. This helps to regulate sleeping, cognition, and appetite processes in the body.
Respected Colorado veterinarian Dr. Tanya Strickland says that she may consider recommending CBD oil to a client looking for a non-tradition option to treat their furry loved one. She tells Emerald Magazine that even she has recommended CBD oil from Charlotte’s Web to her interested clients. The veterinarian goes on to explain how she suggests CBD oil for dogs that experience arthritis and other types of chronic pain, referencing the ample research that shows CBD oil to be effective in pain management.
“For dogs who have or have been on tons of medications and are getting worse,” the veterinarian says, “CBD can be added very safely.” Strickland has used CBD on two canine patients that had seizures. In both cases, the owners were satisfied with the results. Pet owners interested in using CBD oil treatment for their pets are encouraged to reach out to their veterinarian and research CBD products on their own time.
A CBD Oil with Many Uses
Charlotte’s Web CBD oil has a lot to offer. It’s been used to soothe anxiety, treat epileptic seizures in humans, and manage pain in dogs. Consumers can shop consciously for their cannabis products all while supporting an LGBTQIA+ business by buying from Charlotte’s Web CBD brand.
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