Kansas Judge Reverses Order to Allow Parents' Use of Medical Cannabis

They are on the road to getting their kids back, though it may still be months away.

Attorney Matthew Pappas outside the courthouse. Image courtesy: ksnt.com

(MANHATTAN, Kansas) - Reversing his original order in a case involving five children taken by the Department of Children and Families, a Riley County, Kansas judge has allowed use of medical cannabis by the children’s parents.

Writing that visitation with the children can continue even if the parents test positive for marijuana, the judge required them to provide proof of their medical marijuana recommendations issued in Colorado.

The judge stated drug testing, “shall be for this case only and not for criminal prosecution.” In addition to his ruling on the medical use of cannabis, the judge denied the state’s request to terminate the Schwab’s parental rights.

Commenting on the judge’s order, Matthew Pappas, a California attorney helping the Schwabs, said, “Last week during a press conference, I used the phrase ‘shame on Kansas.’ The judge’s order recognizing the medical use of cannabis by Raymond Schwab is commendable and was the right thing to do.

"Hopefully, the Kansas Legislature will now make progress in passing a workable law that provides for medical cannabis in this state.”

Jennifer Winn, a former Kansas gubernatorial candidate and cannabis patient supporter said, “The efforts of so many people – from Cheryl Shuman and Moms for Marijuana International to the Native American tribes trying to free the children to the thousands of activists who have supported the Schwabs – light has been brought to this important issue. The judge made the right decision.”

The Schwab children were taken by the Kansas Department of Children and Families last year while the children were with their maternal grandmother and the parents were moving the family to Colorado.

Raymond Schwab, a veteran of the U.S. Navy who was then working for the Department of Veterans Affairs had been transferred from that agency’s Topeka facility to Colorado.

Schwab, who suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and was deemed 50% disabled by the government, had been recommended medical cannabis by a licensed Colorado physician.

Although Riley County judge John Bosch had at first refused to allow use of medical cannabis, his order yesterday reversing that decision will in-part likely lead to return of the children to their parents in the next few months.

(Provided by Raymond Schwab)

Source: Pappas/Press Release

Salem-News.com Marijuana Coverage

Where and How to Smoke Legal Marijuana without Fear of Arrest in the U.S.

Eulogy of a Great Warrior: Hoss Plourde

The Ripple Effect How Marijuana Laws Are Impacting Society

Audit the Audit

Welcome Home, Tom

Comments Leave a comment on this story.

Name:

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

[Return to Top]

---

©2025 Salem-News.com. All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Salem-News.com.