What Is Charlotte's Web?
Leafly describes Charlotte's Web as a cannabis strain and hemp cultivar bred by the Stanley brothers of Colorado for high CBD and low THC. Wikipedia says the brothers made it by crossing a cannabis strain with industrial hemp, and that they first called it Hippie's Disappointment because it could not produce a high. AllBud lists that old name too, along with the spelling Charlotte Web.
The strain was renamed in honour of Charlotte Figi, an American girl with Dravet syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy. Her story was featured in the CNN documentary Weed, hosted by Sanjay Gupta, in August 2013 and again in Weed 2 in March 2014, and Wikipedia notes that the media coverage increased demand for high-CBD products. Charlotte Figi died in April 2020. Today the name is also a US brand of hemp-derived CBD products made from these genetics.
Sources disagree on type. Leafly files it under sativa, while AllBud calls it an even 50/50 hybrid and Weedmaps also lists it as a hybrid. The guide to indica, sativa and hybrid labels explains why these labels often differ.
Look, Smell and Taste
AllBud describes small, airy, grape-shaped nugs in minty green with orange hairs and a frosty coat of trichomes, and Weedmaps mentions long, thin fan leaves typical of sativa plants.
Leafly reviewers most often taste pine, woody and floral notes. AllBud describes a lightly sour citrus flavour with woody pine, and an earthy, piney aroma with sour lemon and a sharp hint of mint, while Weedmaps users most often report lemon, mint and pine.
Leafly's lab data lists myrcene as the main terpene, followed by pinene and caryophyllene. The guide to cannabis terpenes explains what those compounds are.
Effects People Report
Leafly's 287 ratings most often mention feeling focused, relaxed and uplifted, and Leafly rates its effects as mostly energizing. AllBud says not to expect much of a high and describes a mellow, lifted and calm feel. Health Canada says CBD is not intoxicating and may reduce some of the effects of THC, but that it does have an effect on the brain.
The downsides Leafly users list most are dizziness, dry mouth and dry eyes. It is still cannabis, so start with a small amount, and follow Health Canada's advice not to drive for at least 6 hours after using cannabis.
CBD and THC Levels
Leafly lists Charlotte's Web at about 12% CBD and 1% THC, and AllBud gives 12% to 20% CBD with 0% to 1% THC. Weedmaps says the original Hippie's Disappointment had a CBD to THC ratio of about 30 to 1. For a plain explanation of how the two compounds differ, see CBD vs THC.
In Canada, CBD is regulated under the Cannabis Act, and Health Canada defines industrial hemp as cannabis with 0.3% THC or less in its flowering heads and leaves. Canada's lower-risk cannabis use guidelines suggest choosing products with low THC and a high CBD to THC ratio. Health Canada also notes that a CBD product making a health claim needs approval as a prescription drug.
Related Strains
Leafly lists two strains bred from Charlotte's Web, Divina Obscura and Spyder Mon. Wikipedia also mentions R4, another high-CBD, low-THC type that came before Charlotte's Web in the Figi family's story.
Buying Charlotte's Web
The menu box on this page shows whether Charlotte's Web is on the GasDank menu right now; if it is not, it lists in-stock hybrid flower instead. Check that the label shows lab-tested CBD and THC numbers; a CBD-rich flower should show far more CBD than THC. GasDank delivers same day across Toronto and the GTA, usually within 1 to 2 hours, and ships mail order across Canada to customers 19 or older (21 in Quebec), with ID checked. For CBD-rich options, browse the CBD section or all hybrid flower.
