http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/04/17/state-seizes-11-year-old-arrests-his-mother-after-he-defends-medical-marijuana-during-a-school-presentation/ \tState seizes 11-year-old, arrests his mother after he defends medical marijuana during a school presentation By Radley Balko April 17 at 11:32 AM From the website run by investigative journalist Ben Swann: <blockquote class="">On March 24, cannabis oil activist Shona Banda‘s life was flipped upside-down after her son was taken from her by the State of Kansas. The ordeal started when police and counselors at her 11-year-old son's school conducted a drug education class. Her son, who had previously lived in Colorado for a period of time, disagreed with some of the anti-pot points that were being made by school officials. “My son says different things like my ‘Mom calls it cannabis and not marijuana.' He let them know how educated he was on the facts,†said Banda in an exclusive interview with BenSwann.com. Banda successfully treated her own Crohn's disease with cannabis oil. After her son spoke out about medical marijuana, police detained him and launched a raid on Shona Banda's home. “Well, they had that drug education class at school that was just conducted by the counselors… They pulled my son out of school at about 1:40 in the afternoon and interrogated him. Police showed up at my house at 3… I let them know that they weren't allowed in my home without a warrant… I didn't believe you could get a warrant off of something a child says in school.†Banda continued, “We waited from 3 o'clock until 6 o'clock. They got a warrant at 6 o'clock at night and executed a warrant into my home. My husband and I are separated, and neither parent was contacted by authorities before [our son] was taken and questioned.†</blockquote> The police apparently found 2 ounces of cannabis oil in her home. She fears that the state will now attempt to take her son away. She has a custody hearing on Monday. I contacted the Garden City Police Department to verify some of the details that have been reported online. A spokesman confirmed that officers had searched Banda's home, though he denied it was a raid. He also said the initial anti-drug program was put on entirely by the school - the police had no involvement. At that event Banda's son apparently contradicted some of the claims made about marijuana. The school then contacted the child protection agency, which then contacted the police. Officers from the department showed up at Banda's at home and asked her permission to conduct a search. She refused. They then obtained a warrant and searched her home. The spokesman wouldn't comment on exactly what was found, except to say that there was “evidence†of drug activity. Banda was then arrested and her son was seized from the home. Currently, there are no criminal charges against her. The spokesman wouldn't comment on whether charges may be forthcoming. He added that possession of marijuana is illegal in Kansas, without exception. The absurdity here of course is that a woman could lose her custody of her child for therapeutically using a drug that's legal for recreational use an hour to the west. It seems safe to say that the amount of the drug she had in her home was an amount consistent with personal use. (If she had been distributing, she'd almost certainly have been charged by now.) This boy was defending his mother's use of a drug that helps her deal with an awful condition. Because he stuck up for his mother, the state arrested her and ripped him away from her. Even if he is eventually returned to his mother (as he ought to be), the school, the town, and the state of Kansas have already done a lot more damage to this kid than Banda's use of pot to treat her Crohn's disease ever could. Banda's supporters have now set up a legal defense fund page for her at Go Fund Me.
The system is sending a message to activist everywhere. "We'll kidnap your kids like a fucking Viking on a raid" Babylonian demons.
she has been an advocate for using cannabis as food and the numerous health benefits, the parts not smoked like drugs. americas view on health is as horrible as the views can be.do this thing to be healthy get into a jailcell immediately. we have gotta love kids and telling their own truth, it is like standing up in church when they say god sends you to hell and screaming God is not a bad man! Oh, and this lady turned here life around 100% with the cannabis plant. wait until juries see that
It is a shame when the truth won't do! Shona was dying of Crohn's and she saved her own life by using cannabis after the doctors failed! Saving your life should not be a crime! Speaking the truth should not be a crime! You should not have your children stolen because you use an herbal medicine! Granny EDIT- It's been reported that they have taken down Shona's Facebook page! So we can't even give her emotional support via Facebook!
Clearly, the school violated that child's First Amendment rights. It's a damn shame that outdated reefer madness propaganda trump's freedom of speech. Shona's child is a true patriot for defending the medical merits of marijuana. Shona requires marijuana medically so she can become more functional and a good mom to her child. If a child were to defend the medical use of prescription opiates for patients suffering debilitating pain, would he have gotten himself and his seriously ill mom in trouble? Prescription opiates and opiods are addicting. Since these prescription opiates are laced with tylenol to produce a synergistic painkilling effect, severe liver damage is inevitable. Tylenol becomes lethal with prolonged daily use. However, tylenol is legal while prescription opiates laced with tylenol remains legal for patients suffering from debilitating pain. I am a survivor of debilitating pain associated with myriad auto immune disorders and a survivor of prescritption opiates. The pain associated with immune dysfunction becomes so severe that moving any part of one's body is excruciating. Without any pain relief, one becomes bedridden and unable to bathe or go to the bathroom. I know the prescription opiates were taking it's toll on my liver and made the switch to high CBD medication. Without cannabis, I would not be functional and likely dead by now from liver damage via tylenol toxicity from prescription opiates. I would rather be a functional, contributing member of society rather than a bedridden mom robbing my child of his childhood so he can help take care of me. Cannabis saves lives.
I'm not much of a "social butterfly"- I don't belong to Facebook or any of the other social networks. Shona however can be found on Linked-in and if you are a member you can contact her through them. . Although her personal page is still down, there is a still page up for her book- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shona-Bandas-Live-Free-or-Die/146496222049591 The Go Fund Me link appears to have a way to contact Shona, but she is likely getting flooded with emails, so you might just want to leave a comment. I have no doubt that she will read them all. And stealing a bit from Nellie Ann's comment there - "Could anyone who has a free moment (especially you KANSAS voters) please contact Kansas Senators Jerry Moran at (913) 393-0711 and Pat Roberts at (913) 451-9343 about this story" Moran's email page- http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-jerry Roberts' email page - http://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=EmailPat There are 599,696 members at GC. <span> </span> Imagine their faces <span> if even 1 out of every 10 blades sent them an email! Do GC proud! </span>Be that blade! Granny
OK, I'm not going to make any long distance calls, but did I email the senators. My email, because I am in California, likely will be just a tally mark marked down by some little clerk gauging the tide of opinions. But letting the senators know that this is shining a very negative light on the "great state of Kansas" ( ) is a good thing! The senators need to know that this is not going to be ignored! Don't use profanity, but let them know you are not "a happy camper"! And now it's YOUR turn to click the links and express yourself! Thank you! Granny
This is pretty despicable. It is Kansas though. The birth place and current stronghold of the T-totaler. I can't even fathom why someone who lives in the safe haven of Colorado would move a mere hour away to the worst place in the country. Moving from Colorado to Kansas is like moving from Gondor to Mordor. You are really gonna leave the protection of the Knights of the white tower to go live among the Uruks and the Ungols? What the fuck are you thinking? I understand that things are not the way they should be, but you still have to live in reality, and in reality if you do drugs of any kind in Kansas you are NOT welcome. Anyway, I hope this works out for them, but it's Kansas, so it won't.
Just sickening, we need to get this story out there and known, so people can understand how sick most of the Feds/police REALLY are. I can't even put into words how horrible this is Sent from my intergalactic spaceship hotbox