Idaho campaigners have unveiled an initiative certified by the State to place medical marijuana legalization in 2026 on Idaho ballots.
Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho, (NMAI), announced Wednesday that the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act would give patients with certain qualifying conditions the opportunity to purchase marijuana in a select number of licensed dispensaries. The act also provides a regulatory structure for the industry.
About a week after Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador (R) notified the secretary of state’s office that the proposed short and long ballot title for the initiative gave a “true and impartial” overview of the reform, the campaign is now cleared to circulate petitions.
Amanda Watson, Communications Lead for NMAI said, “This initiative is designed to give families and individuals choices when other options have not worked.” The Idaho values were taken into consideration when creating this initiative. This would mean strict oversight and measures to stop recreational use. But most importantly it would bring relief to thousands of Idahoans who suffer from serious health conditions. This is a conservative and compassionate approach to health-care.”
Idaho Medical Cannabis Act: Here are its main provisions
- Medical cannabis would be available to health professionals to prescribe to their patients who suffer from conditions such as cancer, anxiety, or acute pain.
- Patients who are on medical marijuana or the designated caregiver can purchase up to 20 grams THC for vaporizing or 113 grams smokeable cannabis per month.
- Three vertically-integrated cannabis businesses would be the initial licenses issued by the state.
- State law would reclassify marijuana as Schedule II and not Schedule I.
- The federal government would not allow state and local police to assist in drug enforcement related activities relating to the legal cannabis programs of each state.
- Anti-discrimination laws would protect those who sell or use marijuana according to state law. This will prevent employers, educational institutions, landlords from taking adverse actions.
- There does not seem to be any reforms centered on equity, and the initiative would also likely exclude a domestic grow option.
The campaign needs to gather 70,725 valid and legally binding signatures. This includes at least 6% of Idaho’s registered voters from 18 legislative districts. NMAI will hire paid petitioners for the project.
Kind Idaho told its supporters that, due to the recent medical marijuana initiative, it will suspend the signature-gathering for the ballot initiative legalizing the possession of cannabis by adults.
“In the spirit of cooperation to ensure that we have a pro-cannabis measure on the ballot in 2026, we will not be circulating the #DecriminalizeCannabisNow Petition until they have collected their 70,000 signatures,” Kind Idaho said in an email blast. “We will advocate for their signatories until that time.”
Kind Idaho attempted to bring medical marijuana measures before the voters of 2022 and 2020, but failed.
The voters will also see another kind of proposition on their ballots next year: a constitutional amendment approved by the legislature that would limit the ability to legalize marijuana and other controlled substances only for lawmakers.
—
MEDCAN24 has been tracking the hundreds of bills relating to cannabis, psychedelics or drug policies that have passed through state legislatures as well as Congress in this past year. Patreon subscribers who donate at least $25/month have access to the interactive maps and charts as well as our hearing calendar.
Find out more about our marijuana law tracker. To get access, become a Patreon supporter.
—
The issue has not been addressed in any meaningful way since the March hearing.
A bill introduced by Rep. Bruce Skaug earlier in the year, would have created a mandatory $420 minimum penalty for marijuana possession. This removed judges’ discretion on whether to impose lower penalties. Skaug claimed that the bill would have sent a message to the public about Idaho’s tough stance on marijuana.
House lawmakers also passed a bill to ban marijuana advertisements, though the Senate later defeated the measure.
Side Pocket Images. Photo by Chris Wallis.
MEDCAN24 would not be possible without the support of readers. Consider a Patreon subscription if our marijuana advocacy journalism is what you use to keep informed.
