Tell Kansas - "Don't Shatter Shona's Family Over Medical Marijuana Use"

  • by: Jessica and Terry B., Family Friends
  • recipient: Susan Richmeier, Finney County Attorney and Denise Voss, Assessment and Prevention Administrator, Kansas Department of Families and Children

Shona uses medical marijuana to help treat her Crohn's disease. When her 11 year-old son spoke up during an anti-drug program to clarify information about medical marijuana, his school called the police.

Garden City police were reportedly called to Shona's son's school after he challenged items in the anti-drug program. Police obtained a warrant to search Shona's home, discovering the cannabis that she uses to treat her Crohn's disease.

Now Shona's son is in temporary protective custody, and the District Attorney is considering criminal charges and long-term removal of her son from the home.

As Shona's friends, we know that she is fighting an ongoing battle as we speak to get her son back into her arms, and we know that we need to do everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible. Will you help?

Don't let Shona and her son become yet two more victims of the nation's flawed policy on medical marijuana. Please sign this urgent petition to the Finney County District Attorney and Department of Families and Children to help me keep this family together.

District Attorney Richmeier and Administrator Voss:

We the undersigned are deeply disturbed by the treatment of Shona Banda, a 37-year-old mother, whose son has been taken from her and who now faces criminal charges for using cannabis to treat her Crohn's disease.

In the interest of compassion and family integrity, we believe that the District Attorney's office can and should assert its discretion and decline to press charges against Ms. Banda. We also believe that The Department of Families and Children should immediately return Ms. Banda's child to her home.

The potential costs to the county and damage to the child in bringing this case to trial and keeping him from his mother far outweighs any perceived benefit to the community. Please do not sacrifice this family in the name of the state's misguided laws on medical marijuana.

Thank you for considering our comments.
Update #48 years ago
Antiquated drug laws are still tearing families apart. More than 160,000 people like you signed the Care2 petition calling for Shona Banda, a Kansas mother whose child was taken from her because she uses cannabinoid oil to treat her Crohn's disease. Now the state has taken the children of a Colorado veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome. Please take action to help reunite Ray Schwab and his family.
Update #38 years ago
Shona was in court this week in Garden City, KS and it looks like she is in for a tough fight. Please show your support for her fight to save her family and challenge antiquated laws that that prevent her from using cannabidiol oil to manage a debilitating illness and remain healthy. Tweet your support to Shona now!
Update #28 years ago
This week, Care2 took your signature -- and more than 140,000 others -- to Garden City, Kansas, to stand with Shona Banda as she turned herself in to police custody. Shona has since posted bail and been released awaiting trial. Here's what's next: Care2 is challenging the type of sentencing guidelines that could help jail Shona for more than 30 years. Will you speak out too? Send a message now.
Update #18 years ago
This isn't justice. It's a cruel relic of the nation's failed drug war. Shona Banda, a Kansas mom suffering from debilitating Crohn's Disease, has been officially charged for using oil made from marijuana to treat her condition. Her son has been taken from her and she faces up to 30 years in prison. Please call Kansas Governor Sam Brownback right now and urge him to intervene to keep Shona out of prison and reunite her with her son: 785-296-3232 or tweet @govsambrownback at http://bit.ly/1BWk1ID
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