Medical marijuana activists' children taken from home, charges possible

[IDemo]

Source: KTVB

BOISE -- Three publicly known medical marijuana advocates say police took their sons away from them this week while investigating allegations involving marijuana. Their sons were considered by law enforcement to be in imminent danger.

The medical marijuana advocacy group called "Compassionate Idaho" has appeared in several recent news stories as members have circulated petitions looking for a vote to legalize medical marijuana. Now, its leaders are being investigated, and they say their kids were put into foster care.

"They took my children. Due to cannabis being present in the house," Lindsey Rinehart, Compassionate Idaho's Executive Director, said.

Lindsey and Josh Rinehart and Sarah Caldwell have been very public in their efforts to legalize medical marijuana. On Tuesday, they say when they got back to the Rinehart's after a trip -- their baby-sitter was there, but their four sons were all gone.



Read more: http://www.ktvb.com/news/Medical-marijuana-activists-children-taken-from-home-charges-pending-204966741.html

[Poll_Blind]

1. This is how low the War on Drugs will go to silence dissent. CPS taking kids away from...

...a household where the parents smoke marijuana is completely overboard and CPS knows it. I've not smoked marijuana in years but some of my friends do and they have children. I've read online the opinions of CPS in regards to marijuana in the home and the universal responses I found were essentially "If the parents are recreationally smoking marijuana and that's the only ding against the household, it's actually far more destructive to the children's interests to remove the children from the household simply for that."

The key point here is what is in the best interests of the children.

This very much smacks of retaliation and I'd love to claim it's a new nadir in the response to the marijuana "revolution" that's slowly creeping over the nation right now, but it's not.

We're paying the salaries of people to terrorize us.

PB

[PerceptionManagement]

14. smells like a vindictive prosecutor

That will teach them to shut up.

[liberalmike27]

25. Can You Imagine

Were kids taken from the homes where the use of a far more dangerous drug, alcohol is used, how few people would still have their own kids?

Yet another modern-day, backward, absurdity of our politics.

[defacto7]

48. ^^ this ^^

[bemildred]

44. I just don't see how a rational person can ignore booze and freak out about pot.

You want real harm done to kids, booze is far more likely to get you there.

And I'm always amazed that nobody ever thinks of giving Mom & Dad financial help so the kids will be safer, but to take them away and put them in foster homes, yeah, we got time and money for that.

[kickysnana]

2. They have done this to many Lyme Disease activists over the years too.

I'm from the government, I am here to help.

[bahrbearian]

5. I've haven't heard of "Lyme Disease activists"

What are they about?

[bahrbearian]

21. Thanks for all that, great work. I was given some kind of pill that was used for Lyme disease.

Last edited Sat Apr 27, 2013, 01:32 PM - Edit history (1)

T

[azurnoir]

27. a question about what you said was HCMC involved in any of this

given the harrowing nature of story I would be quite surprised if they were not involved, very involved

[kickysnana]

58. Sorry for the dealy of a reply...

I honestly never had anyone say anything about HCMC. Lyme disease came into the Twin Cities from the North through North Oaks about the time when Mondale was living there and running for President. Whole cluster of people infected earliest there that is why the LDCM was based out of Roseville and the LDAMN now of Forest Lake.

Anyplace the grass dries out is not good habitat for the ticks so city folks would be less likely to get Lyme but it did work its way into the inner ring of suburbs by 2008.

I worked an BMET internship at HCMC in 1980 and their equipment was a decade older than the stuff at United Hospital in St Paul my other internship but they kept it working and that is the dated extent of my information about HCMC.

[azurnoir]

59. Thanks I asked because of the IMO dirty dealings of the medical community

WRT Lyme disease and some of what you wrote sounded right up that institutions alley so to speak, my experience with HCMC is mostly as a patient in the 1980's and 90's.

[truedelphi]

36. This is incredible information on Lyme's disease

And ll the in's and out's.

I have watched several friends struggle to get better. Most of them had to fight to get the diagnosis to begin with.

One girl friend had gone to several different doctors here in California, and they would even refuse to give her the test saying that lyme's is not a disease happening here in California. Then she noticed a charge for Lyme's disease for her pet terrier - from her vet. She called and talked to him, and he said that veterinarians were seeing Lyme's disease among domestic animals all the time. She then went back to the last doctor she saw and DEMANDED the test.

Anyway thank you for all this information.

[bluedigger]

3. They should have advocated for Boozers for the Second Amendment.

Probably would have been feted as Parents of the Year.

[Marrah_G]

4. They are going to need to build a million orphanages.....

... if they start removing kids from any home where pot smokers live.

[Dragonfli]

18. The prison industry WOULD like to diversify, I can see them starting orphanage divisions....

They could even help their charges to be contributors to society rather than orphan leeches, little fingers are very good for assembly work among other things

Up until the 1800's, abandoned and neglected children were placed in workhouses, and sold into indentured servitude or industrial labor. I see no reason we can't bring back the proud traditions of old, besides children orphaned by the state due to a parent smoking a joint, poor "neglected" children can be taken from the welfare rolls (and their low class parents) and placed with them in these facilities.

This would allow them all to be productive charges indentured to a new industry that would provide cleaner modern reinventions of workhouses that could produce profit while simultaneously reducing social welfare costs. Everybody wins!

[think]

6. The real crime is a government that takes away your children

based on a witch hunt...

[defacto7]

49. Remember, we're talking Idaho.

There are some states whose system is so twisted to the right that there is no reason whatsoever. They don't need no damn reason, only the bible and in the case of Idaho, The Book of Mormon.

[L0oniX]

7. Cops protecting us from evil.

[Sunlei]

8. Now they have all the names of people, anyone they don't like is going to be a target.

I can dream that President Obama mandates to decriminalise marijuana at the Federal level, to save thousands of Americans from their state/local gov.

[heaven05]

9. amurikkka????

it is 'ruled' by such ignorant and backward people.

[SCVDem]

10. When they go to Bubba's house for a domestic violence

do they take the kids after seeing a trash can filled with empty beer cans and booze bottles and full ones on the table?

This is unwarranted government harrassment!

Now about that .223 ............

[mom264leggers]

11. Michigan CPS Policies

Not that I'm a big fan of Michigan's CPS, but its Child Protective Services Manual says:

Substance abuse, or the addiction of the parent-caretaker or adult living
in the home to alcohol or drugs, does not in and of itself constitute evidence
of abuse or neglect of the child. Parents use drugs (including, but
not limited to, legally or illegally obtained controlled drugs such as medically
prescribed marijuana, methadone, pain-killers and anti-depressants)
and/or alcohol to varying degrees and many remain able to care
for their child without harming the child. A careful evaluation must be
made to determine whether a child is at risk.

Sounds like this Idaho case is pure retaliation and pure knee jerk reaction. I cannot see how it would take Idaho's CPS thirty days to investigate. By the way, the state workers must search for family members with whom to place the children. If those parents have family in the area, they should insist that CPS place the kids with the family. Oh I could go on and on . . . .

[hrmjustin]

41. Welcome to DU my friend!

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

52. Let me say Welcome too...

Nice to see the Manual quoted, now if they would only comply in Idaho.

[brett_jv]

12. What bullcrap ...

Probably 80% of households with kids have at least some alcohol somewhere in them, and yet we'd never take kids away because of it ... even though it's a far more dangerous situation than a household with some cannabis. Not only is alcohol significantly more likely to be linked with violence or neglect on the part of the parent(s), the chances of the child consuming the drug on accident is many times higher. Not a lot of small children would accidentally stumble on the bong and the satch, and then know how to pack a load, then use a lighter to consume the drug. But you don't have to be very old to be able to open a bottle and drink from it.

Bloody fascists ...

[SCVDem]

13. Bet they look the other way

if loaded firearms were in the open and accessible to the kids.

Wouldn't want to offend anyones second ammendment rights.

[mountain grammy]

16. Shocking, a modern day witch hunt. Total overreach by local authorities.

I laugh at people who think they should arm themselves against the goons of the central government, when it's the goons who are your neighbors that can hurt you the most.

[robinlynne]

17. unbelievable.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

19. Is this how Montana operates?

[hughee99]

23. Montana?

Did I miss something? I thought this was Idaho?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

34. Boise, Montana.

Why not?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

40. Oh well!

LOL! I guess I need glasses.

[RainDog]

20. this is evil

The war on drugs is a shameful part of America's present.

[20score]

22. Is there a number for the prosecutor? Maybe these truly disgusting people should

hear from 'Normals.'

[Lady Freedom Returns]

28. Ada County Prosecutor’s Office:

This is on the top of the page http://www.adaweb.net/prosecutor//ContactUs.aspx :

There are a few things we want you to understand before you go to the effort of composing and sending an e-mail to our office. Because of certain restrictions, we won't be able to respond to the following areas of concern:

◾General Legal Advice & Legal Referral -- We cannot respond to legal questions or give you any legal advice due to a conflict of interest. Also, we will not refer you to a lawyer. However, you can contact the Idaho State Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service at [phone] between 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (mountain time) or click here to use their Lawyer Referral Service on line.

◾Criminal Case Inquiries -- Pursuant to Rule 4.2 of the Idaho Rules of Ethics, we are ethically unable to communicate directly or indirectly with you regarding your criminal case if you are represented by an attorney, unless we have your attorney’s consent. If you have an attorney, have him or her contact our office

But here is some contact info:

1.E-Mail us directly at [e-mail]

2.US mail to:
Ada County Prosecutor's Office
200 West Front Street, Room 3191
Boise, ID 83702

3.Telephone:
[phone]
[phone]

Office hours for all offices are:
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday – Friday
(excluding holidays)

Oh and I also found:

Child Protection cases handled at:
Ada County Prosecutor’s Office
200 West Front Street, Room 3191
Boise, Idaho 83702
Office: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[20score]

29. Thank you

Thank you!

[Califa]

24. I read on a couple of sites other than this one

that Obama was ending the War on Drugs. I thought, yeah right, I would believe it when I see it. Not seeing it. Just waiting for another raid in my state of another medical marijuana dispensary or hauling off a cancer ridden grandma to jail.

[Comrade Grumpy]

26. Even if Obama were to end the federal drug war, which he isn't....

...you still have all the state-level drug war laws. That's where 95% of all the arrests are, not by the DEA.

[truedelphi]

38. Welcome to Du.

Hope you enjoy it here.
But in actuality, whoever is President gets to appoint the head of the DOJ. Obama appointed a guy whose past history included helping out, as an attorney, major Death Squad people!

If he wanted to, Obama could re-appoint a man to head the DOJ that is not total scum, and who would immediately re-schedule marijuana. if Obama had the will to do it.

There is something very wrong in this country. On issue after issue, people want one thing, and our bought and paid for "elected leaders" want and do another,per the bidding of their Puppet Masters.

Poll after poll shows sixty to seventy percent of all Americans want to have marijuana legalized. And yet only 3 percent of elected officials want to do that. Why? Big Pharma is rapidly researching and patenting the cannibinoids and the puppets who occupy seats in Congress and the seat in the Oval Office are willing to appease Big Pharma. This fits in with the revolving door theory of industry/government. Work in the government for a while, and once you "retire," you get a cushy job as a VP at some Pharmaceutical Company where you never have to do a thing, and have a great salary and health benefits too!

[truedelphi]

47. That is a rather strange statement.

If he had a conscience, he would do what he could do right now to end the madness.

Right now, he could have Holder re-schedule marijuana. right now. That would make it legal.And if Mr Holder wants to hold out for his buddies in the Big Pharmaceutical Industry, then Mr Obama can replace Mr Holder.

A person of conscience always does what they can do. Al;ready the people of 18 states plus Washington DC have de-criminalized, legalized or what have you, this substance by the voters. Then you have Kentucky, who had officials say every citizen can have six ounces. Then Obama lets his goon squads go in and arrest people. Why?

California is a hell of a big place. Thirty seven million people live here. So if the man wanted to help us out, he could see to it that substance is re-scheduled, and that would put thirty seven million people here out of prison's reach.

[azurnoir]

30. This is an effort to terrorize in to silence

if marijuana is legalized then law enforcement loses money, period, it's all about the 'crime fighting' $$$$$$$$

[earthside]

31. Reactionary forces are pushing back.

There is already talk of repealing Colorado's marijuana legalization amendment.

Colorado lawmakers discussing marijuana-legalization repeal effort - Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23112951/colorado-marijuana-legalization-backers-say-repeal-effort-is

[midnight]

46. So if the govt can't tax these medical dispensaries, then they will repeal the law....

[bemildred]

32. Endangering the children to punish the parents for political activity.

(And yes I do mean that those children will be much less safe in "protective services" than home with their parents.)

[azurnoir]

35. gee ya think? but then again in this case 'safety' and/or endangerment

are only buzz words what is being endangered here are the $$$$$$$$$ given to law enforcement for the war on drugs

[Proletariatprincess]

33. Beat cops are now the arbitors of child custody?

The report indicates that it is the cop on the scene who determines whether children should be taken from their homes and families. In this case, it is clearly vindictive on the part of the cops.
I don't trust cops. I haven't for very many years despite being Irish and having a few cops in the family. They call themselves the Good Guys and feel entitled to impose their moral guardianship on the rest of us. For most of us, the moral righteousness takes the form in a pompus lecture about safety from the traffic cop. For many, it is the reason they become cops. But I guess it never occured to me that cops can take your children away. I thought Child Protection Services had to make that determination. But CPS is in the thrall of the cops too, so this whole thing is just too disturbing. How do we ensure against abuses like this in the future?
Maybe they really are considering Orphanages for Profit. There was a Congresscritter (REpublican of course) a few years ago who actually raised the issue of bring back orphanages but he was pretty much dismissed as a nutjob. But maybe that was just a trial balloon.
If they succeed, our serfdom will be complete.

[truedelphi]

37. If only we had someone in the White House who cared about

the Ninety Nine percent, marijuana could be re-scheduled in a heart beat.

That would solve each and every situation like this that breaks the hearts of anyone reading about it.

Mr Obama, have you NO SHAME! I didn't vote for you so you could sit back and enable your friends at Big Pharma to patent the cannibinoids, keep the substance illegal until laws are in place allowing for its pharmaceutical distribution via prescription, with the cost then being sky high.

Anyway, thanks for nothing!

[olddad56]

39. Idaho = police state

[defacto7]

50. What do you bet

it's a way for them to scare cannabis advocates into leaving the state of Idaho?

[randome]

42. My feeling is that there is more to this than just the parents' side.

Apparently the school was involved. Perhaps the authorities had reason to believe the marijuana that showed up there came from their kids. I suppose we'll know more if charges are filed.

[woo me with science]

43. Horrifying.

This needs to be slapped down hard, now.

This is very, very disturbing and has dangerous implications for the future.

[midnight]

45. K&R

[leftyohiolib]

51. but it's ok to have guns there

[JDPriestly]

53. Seems to me that those who want to advocate for marijuana in states in which it is illegal

should avoid having any in their house or even using any.

You folks who advocate for marijuana are sitting targets.

What a stupid thing to do to your kids. Sorry, but this is what we used to call a no-brainer.

[LostOne4Ever]

56. While I agree

That it was dumb on their part I dont think they should lose their kids over it. Kids should stay with their parents unless a REAL threat exists.

But then again I dont think marijuana should illegal in the first place.

However, I get your point. They were advocates for it being legalized, so of course the cops would be watching them. Why risk it especially it if you have kids. >.<

It was dumb on their part, but its still wrong.

[Warren DeMontague]

54. Fucked Up.

The good news is, I think the clock is running out on Marijuana Prohibition. Although states like Idaho may not have gotten the memo, yet.

[Locut0s]

55. The war on drugs has become a capitalist industry itself. There's too much money in it...

Billions of dollars of federal money pour into the industry that is called the "war on drugs". As lucrative as the drug industry is few people seem to realise how much money and vested interests there are in the war against it. They will go a long ways and do some pretty morally reprehensible things to keep that industry going too.

[tabasco]

57. The "war" on some drugs is a great tool for the fascists

to jail those they choose.