R.I.P., Charlotte Figi
Charlotte Figi became a catalyst for medical marijuana around the globe in 2013, when she appeared on Dr. Sanjay Gupta s
Weed documentary on CNN. Gupta had doubted medical marijuana s efficacy until he met Figi, a toddler who suffered from Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy that can cause extreme seizures. Figi was treated with CBD oil extracted from a non-intoxicating strain of marijuana in 2012, and eventually no longer required a feeding tube to eat; her family reported that CBD nearly eliminated her seizures. The growers of the strain of high-CBD marijuana she used later named the strain Charlotte s Web and their company CW Hemp in her honor. Other patients moved to Colorado for the same treatment, helping to create the phrase medical marijuana refugee.
Coloradans found many ways to bide their time during the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring the mountains, taking up baking, learning to roller skate, adopting dogs, and, yes, getting high. Perhaps not surprisingly, the mind-altering, stress-relieving, and boredom-busting qualities of cannabis proved even more enticing to locals in 2020, at least according to Colorado Department of Revenue data that shows from January to October alone, potheads spent more money on marijuana ($1,829,603,225) than they did in all of 2019.
That was a relief for people like Christopher York, the general manager of retail operations at Denver’s Verde Natural marijuana dispensary. “During the initial lockdown, we were incredibly stressed out here,” he says, “but our revenue and traffic shot through the roof.” In March as people prepared to hunker down for the foreseeable future and stocked up on, um,
Wonders Christine:
I really do not understand why, except in cases of medicinal marijuana for individuals who are housebound. Replies Leon: Notes Bill:
This should be no different than getting on Instacart and ordering liquor. The delivery driver has compliance to ensure delivery includes validation of driver’s license. The process is already in place for this to follow. Adds Fred:
They can pick up some munchies on the way. Win-win situation. Like Bill said, the process is in place. Suggests Brad:
Call it doobie dash. Are you in favor of marijuana delivery services? What do you think about Aurora s move? About Denver taking its time? Post a comment or email your thoughts to editorial@westword.com.