Pubdate: Tue, 25 Aug 2015
Source: Kansas City Star (MO)
Copyright: 2015 The Kansas City Star
Contact:  http://www.kansascity.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221
Author: Gabriella Dunn, The Wichita Eagle

KANSAS MARIJUANA ADVOCATE SHONA BANDA PLEADS NOT GUILTY

Shona Banda, a Garden City mom who faces three felonies and two 
misdemeanors for pot use, pleaded not guilty Monday.

Susan Richmeier, Finney County district attorney, said in an email 
that a preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 16.

Law enforcement and Kansas Department of Children and Families 
officials started investigating Banda after her 11-year old son said 
"my mom smokes ... a lot!" during an anti-drug program at Bernadine 
Sitts school in Garden City. The 11-year old could even cite various 
strains of marijuana, according to Banda's arrest affidavit.

Banda and her attorney, Sarah Swain, could not be reached for comment Monday.

In an interview with Banda last month, Banda talked about how 
cannabis oil has helped her cope with her Crohn's disease when she 
said other medical remedies did not.

Banda wrote a book about her marijuana use to treat her disease 
called, "Live Free or Die: Reclaim Your Life ... Reclaim Your Country!"

"When I'm dying, I'm going to do whatever it takes to save my life," 
she said during the July interview. "It's instinct - it's human 
instinct at its very core. You should not have to choose your life over a law."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom