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Rich Coleman | Las Vegas Sun | March 21, 2011
An advocate for loosening medical marijuana restrictions in Nevada was arrested Saturday at her southwest valley home with her husband after police say they found a marijuana grow operation in the house where their 13-year-old son also lived.
Rhonda Shade and Lowel Shade, both 37, were charged with child endangerment, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, trafficking in a controlled substance and conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act. Lowel Shade also was charged with possession of a firearm by an ex-felon. Rhonda Shade has denied selling marijuana.
Police served a search warrant Friday at the couple's home on Valadez Street, near Wigwam Avenue and Cimarron Road. Investigators said they found 90 marijuana plants, a significant amount of ready for sale marijuana with an estimated street value of at least $300,000 and a handgun.
Rhonda Shade has been an outspoken advocate for the Compassionate Access in Nevada Act, which would amend state law to remove a requirement that Nevadans possess a registry identification card to smoke marijuana for medical purposes. Caregivers would also be able to grow and share marijuana with more than one patient under the proposal. Currently, someone can register to use medical marijuana, but can't sell the drug or grow more than seven plants at a time.
Assemblyman Paul Aizley, D-Las Vegas, has worked with Rhonda Shade on the initiative. Aizley said late Monday he wasn't aware of Shade's arrest, but it wouldn't deter him from working toward changes in the law.
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