Lawrence man sentenced to 16 years in marijuana trafficking case

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Lawrence man was sentenced Tuesday to 201 months in federal prison in a marijuana trafficking case. He also was sentenced to a consecutive 30 months on a supervised release violation in a prior case.

Roosevelt Rico Dahda, 33, Lawrence, Kan., was convicted in a jury trial in July 2014 on conspiracy (count 1), using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking (counts 42, 45, 53, 55, 70) possession with intent to distribute marijuana (counts 43, 49, 73) possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of Holcomb Sports Complex in Lawrence (count 56).

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence Dahda was a member of a drug trafficking organization that was responsible distributing $16.9 million worth of marijuana in the Lawrence area. Starting in 2008 law enforcement agencies began receiving information that Dahda’s brother and co-defendant, Los Rovell Dahda, was distributing marijuana in the Lawrence area. When Roosevelt Dahda was released from prison in November 2010 in a prior case, he joined his brother in the trafficking organization.

Medical marijuana group collecting stories of ‘persecution’ by state agency

 By ANDY MARSO
KHI News Service

A medical marijuana advocacy group is collecting stories from Kansans who say they have been “persecuted” by the state’s child welfare agency for using cannabis.

Lisa Sublett, the founder of Bleeding Kansas, said the effort began after Shona Banda, a Garden City woman who says she uses cannabis oil to treat her Crohn’s disease, lost custody of her sonafter the boy spoke up at a school anti-drug presentation.

Banda, the author of a self-published book on her cannabis treatment regimen, is well-known in the medical marijuana community.

Coverage of her custody fight has spurred others to come forward with stories about the Kansas Department for Children and Families cracking down on cannabis users with children, Sublett said.

COLUMN: Kansas has millions of reasons to legalize marijuana

By NICK SLOAN
nick@kansascitykansan.com

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has been criticized all across the country for the team's final call in Super Bowl 49.

With the ball on the one-yard-line, the Seahawks chose to play "cute" and pass the ball, rather than giving it to Marshawn Lynch, the best short-yardage running back in the National Football League. That pass led to an interception, which clinched the game for the New England Patriots.

The lesson is sometimes, we over think decisions that should be simple and we don't take advantage of opportunities that are on the table.

In light of this week's announcement regarding budget cuts to education, I'm reminded of the opportunity Kansas has when it comes to legalizing marijuana.

Prison space crunch drives new proposals for drug crime sentencing in Kansas

By ANDY MARSO
KHI News Service

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- A prison space crunch amid a state budget crisis is lending urgency to legislative proposals aimed at steering drug offenders toward community treatment rather than prison time.

The House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee, chaired by Rep. John Rubin, is looking at a couple bills that he said are meant to try a new approach after decades of stiff penalties spurred by the unsuccessful “War on Drugs.”

Corrections Secretary Ray Roberts has said for years that a significant portion of the state’s prison population has diagnosed mental illnesses, documented substance abuse issues or both.

Kansas Legislator sees cannabis oil bill as potential alternative

By ANDY MARSO
KHI News Service

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- Three-year-old Autumn Bay’s red hair floated up and down in the air as her mother, Christine Bay, bounced her in her arms before a hearing on medical marijuana Wednesday at the Kansas Statehouse.

Christine Bay, of Lenexa, was one of several parents who told legislators emotional stories about desperate, futile treatments for the seizures that wrack their children many times a day.

Democrats have proposed bills in the Kansas House and Senate that would legalize marijuana for a broad range of maladies and symptoms such as the children’s seizures. But similar bills have gained no traction in the Republican-dominated Legislature in recent years.

Medical marijuana to get informational hearing in Kansas Senate

By ANDY MARSO
KHI News Service

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- About 50 supporters of medical marijuana rallied Thursday at the Statehouse amid news that a Senate committee will have informational hearings on the issue.

Sen. David Haley, a Kansas City Democrat, and Rep. Gail Finney, a Wichita Democrat, have introduced bills that would allow marijuana use to treat a range of illnesses and symptoms.

The last hearing on a medical marijuana bill in Kansas was in 2012. The briefings scheduled next week in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee are not formal bill hearings, but Finney remains encouraged.

COMMENTARY: On marijuana legalization, Kansas should stay out of Colorado's business

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com
Kansas City Kansan Publisher

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- For years, while I have been interested in politics, I have also been frustrated by both major political parties.

As a libertarian-leaning, non-affiliated voter, one of the reasons both parties turn me off from their brands is hypocrisy.

Say one thing, do another. Stand for one idea, only to go against it when the issue does not go in your direction.

Since this column involves the great State of Kansas, I’m going to pick on my friends at the Kansas Republican Party for a few moments.

LINK: Kansas considers legal action against Colorado for marijuana legalization

By NICK SLOAN
nick@kansascitykansan.com

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Marijuana, while legalized last year in the State of Colorado, is not legal in the State of Kansas.

Now, it's possible officials in Kansas will seek legal action to make Colorado's legalization of marijuana unconstitutional.

State officials remind residents that marijuana is indeed illegal in Kansas

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- Colorado, the State of Kansas' neighbor to the west, legalized marijuana.

Kansas has not.

However, apparently some residents in Kansas believe marijuana purchased in the State of Colorado can be brought to Kansas without leading to an arrest.

This led Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt to issue out a reminder today that marijuana is illegal in the state - and that Kansas is ready to prosecute it.

“With the recent coverage of ‘marijuana tourism’ since our neighbors in Colorado legalized marijuana under their state law, we wish to remind Kansans that the possession, sale or use of marijuana is still a crime in Kansas," Schmidt said. "Kansas law enforcement has seen and seized marijuana acquired in Colorado and brought illegally to Kansas. We remind Kansans never to bring marijuana into Kansas from Colorado. Doing so is a crime, and Kansas still enforces its law.”

There was no word on whether or not marijuana purchased in Kansas would lead to an arrest in Colorado.

Today's Poll: Should marijuana be legal?