Last week we highlighted the case of Shona Banda, a Kansas medical marijuana advocate. She spent years suffering from Crohn's Disease, went through numerous surgeries and appeared to be in the latter phases of the disease when she discovered cannabis oil relieved her symptoms. After using cannabis regularly, she stayed healthy, managed the disease and after years of disability due to Crohn's Disease, was able to start working again. The treatment was so successful, she became an advocate to let others know the benefits of cannabis oil.

Last week, her son spoke up to a "drug education" officer visiting his school and explained that cannabis had some medical benefits. That set off a shocking series of events—her 11-year-old son was detained and questioned by police without notifying his parents, police kept Shona Banda from her home for three hours while they obtained a search warrant (where they later found cannabis oil and two ounces of marijuana for personal use), and they took her son away, turning him over to to the Department of Child and Family Services.

Yesterday, on April 20th (an ironic date), a judge held a hearing to decide custody of her son:



A medical marijuana advocate has lost custody of her 11-year-old son at least temporarily and could face possible charges following comments the boy made during a drug education program at school. The case of Shona Banda, 37, was forwarded Monday to the Finney County district attorney’s office for a decision about charges, Garden City Police Capt. Randy Ralston said. Possible charges include possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment, the department said in a news release.

“The most important thing here is the child’s well-being,” Ralston said. “That is why it is a priority for us, just because of the danger to the child.”

The Kansas Department of Children and Families also declined to talk about the case, citing confidentiality reasons. But its spokeswoman, Theresa Freed, said that generally the agency’s goal ultimately is to “keep families together when it is safe to do so.”

At this time, no charges have been filed against Shona Banda. Nonetheless, her son has been taken from her house. Garden City Police Captain Randy Ralston defended police actions: The Department of Child and Family Services also made a brief statement:It's perplexing that police and DCF could take custody of a young boy who's mother uses medical marijuana to alleviate symptoms of a serious disease, especially when marijuana/cannabis oil are 100% legal a mere 70 miles away from their home.

The judge issued a gag order on the hearing, so Shona Banda is forbidden from discussing the hearing, but she's not backing down:



“That’s OK — I am not giving up,” Banda said. “I will, I will get him and I am not going to stop until I do.”

Shame on you, Kansas. It's hard to argue that you are acting in the best interest of her 11-year-old son. This entire case seems to be motivated by antiquated prohibition laws that the majority of Americans would like to do away with completely.

Shona Banda filmed the scene as she arrived home to find DCF representatives and multiple police officers blocking her from entering her home:

