NEWSLANC EDITOR: Not only a tragedy for the mother, but think of the guilt trip the below will have on the son for the rest of his life.
DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE: 30 years. That’s how long Shona Banda could spend in prison for her use of medical marijuana.
She’s about to turn herself in to authorities on Monday, and I’m writing to ask for your help…
Her 11-year-old son was forced to sit through a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) propaganda seminar in school, and was told marijuana had no medical benefit. He spoke up. He told the class his mother used marijuana to treat her debilitating condition, and marijuana helped her. The school called the police.
The police held and interrogated Shona’s son at school. Then they searched Shona’s house, seized her medicine, and took her son away.
Now as she fights to regain custody of her son, the state is bearing down on her with five potential felonies — all because she uses medical marijuana.
This is a horrifying case, and a clear example of drug war insanity. Thousands of people legally consume marijuana in neighboring Colorado every day — yet Shona could not only lose her son but spend 30 years locked up behind bars…
Sincerely,
Sharda Sekaran
Communications Director
Drug Policy Alliance
