You might remember the story of Shona Bandy, the Garden City mom who has become the public face of marijuana use in Kansas. Last year Bandy’s 11-year-old son was removed from her home by state authorities after he mentioned at school that his mom smoked pot. Now Bandy is suing the state and some of the agencies who questioned her son, reports Kansas.com.
In her lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, Bandy asserts that she suffers from a debilitating illness, symptoms of which are relieved by cannabis use. Her suit also claims that the state of Kansas is depriving her of her civil right to parent her child. The suit further claims that the Garden City Police Department violated her constitutional rights when they questioned her son without parental permission.
Banda has asked for a jury to hear the case in Wichita. A DCF spokesperson responded to the suit, saying: “The court has final say regarding placement of children.