Police report says couple had nearly 16 pounds of marijuana in home

By Rich Coleman

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 | 7:23 p.m.

A couple arrested over the weekend on counts of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and child endangerment had nearly 16 pounds of marijuana in their home and a pound of marijuana fudge, an arrest report says.

Rhonda Shade and Lowel Shade, both 37, also face counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act.

According to the Metro Police arrest report, officers served a search warrant at the couple’s home in the 4400 block of North Valadez Street on Saturday and found 7,123 grams — close to 16 pounds — of marijuana “ready for sale/use.” Police also found 90 marijuana plants weighing about 67 pounds.

Police also discovered about a pound of marijuana chocolate fudge, a Colt .44 revolver, plastic bags, a digital scale and a white board in the living room that had names and tally marks stating “donations,” according to the report.

When police interviewed the couple, Lowel Shade reportedly told police he funded the marijuana grow by selling a mobile home in Pahrump for $10,000. He said he is a medical marijuana patient, has been growing his own marijuana for four years and smokes an ounce of marijuana a week, the report said. Police said Rhonda Shade is also a member of the medical marijuana program.

The report said the couple’s 14-year-old son had access to all areas of the house where marijuana was being cultivated and stored. The report also said “shake,” or loose marijuana leaves, seeds and stems, was found throughout the residence, including on the kitchen table.

State law forbids medical marijuana patients from possessing, delivering or producing more than one ounce of usable marijuana, three mature marijuana plants and four immature marijuana plants.

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.

Rhonda Shade’s business, Medicated Janes, was raided last September as local and federal agents served several search warrants at Las Vegas medical marijuana consulting clinics, police said.

On the Facebook page for HEMMPNV.com, a website run by Rhonda Shade that promotes "standards and ethics for legal medical marijuana patient providers" and advocates for "the rights of legal medical marijuana patients," she addressed the arrest: “Shortly after I returned home from Carson City for the weekend my house was raided by the narcotics departments. My garden and meds were taken. Neither I nor my husband sold marijuana. The firearm found was an antique 1800s colt black powder pistol," she wrote. "I believe we have been targeted because of my efforts put forth to change our laws. I'm sorry if this hurts all the efforts I have put forth in making things right here.”