Medical marijuana activists’ children taken from home, charges possible

In Boise Idaho, 3 publicly known 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 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.

NWCN

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.

“They say their goal is to return our children to our home once it is deemed safe. They say our children will be in foster care for 30 days,” Lindsey Rinehart said.

NWCN

The search warrant says Rinehart showed KTVB, her home was being investigated for possible charges of marijuana trafficking, possession and injury to a child. She vehemently denies trafficking or putting kids in danger.  She denies that they are dealers.  Caldwell’s two sons are back with her now, but the Rineharts say their two boys are still in foster care. The activists say everything started at their kids’ elementary school earlier this week.

Someone reported that someone brought marijuana to the school, ate it, and it was then reported.  Also someone said the drug was passed around on school grounds.  The Rineharts say police then searched their home, seized marijuana, and took their children, declared in imminent danger.

Lindsey Rinehart says she’s personally given up medical marijuana. She says her MS symptoms have already started to return.  To keep her children, she has to work with CPS, and that means giving up the drug.  Even though she can’t have marijuana around the house, she plans on working with others to legalize the drug.

But no charges have been filed yet in the case.  A spokesman for the health department said if illegal drugs are found in a home, they look at whether they’re accessible to the kids. They also look at if drug activity impacts ability to parent. Police make decisions on if kids need to be taken, and he said the courts work with agency recommendations to determine the return of children.

The Rineharts and Caldwell say other medical marijuana advocates have started to reach out to them and have so far donated more than $5,000 to help pay for legal expenses.

• Posted in: Crime & Punishment ♦ Current Events ♦ Decisions ♦ Drug Laws & Facts ♦ Healthcare
• Tagged: Compassionate Idaho, Lindsey Rinehart, marijuana advocates, Sarah Caldwell