It’s up to Idahoans to decide what happens to the state in relation to drugs, marijuana and psychoactive substances.
By Mia Maldonado, Idaho Capital Sun
Idaho House approved a measure on Wednesday asking for voter approval of a constitutional amendment that will give exclusive control to the Legislature to regulate cannabis.
House Joint Resolution 4 aims to eliminate voters’ ability to legalize marijuana through a ballot initiative. This legislation has no legal effect as it is only a resolution. It would instead place on the ballot of Idahoans a question about amending Idaho’s Constitution so that only the Legislature could have a voice in legalizing “psychoactive drugs.” To amend the Idaho Constitution, it would take a majority vote of yes voters.
Currently, a “Decriminalize Cannabis Now” ballot initiative is in the signature gathering process, according to VoteIdaho.gov. If it qualifies, and if the Senate approves House Joint Resolution 4, then both questions would appear on the 2026 ballot, sponsor Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa said.
Skaug explained that the Idahoans’ “virtues and sobriety”, as he put it, is the motivation behind the resolution.
Skaug stated that it was time for Idahoans themselves to decide on the fate of their state in relation to drugs, marijuana and psychoactive substances. “I ask that our state take the offensive.”
Democrats argue that this is not government’s proper role, and it was a partisan vote.
This resolution will now be presented to the Senate where it needs to receive a minimum of two-thirds vote in order to appear on the ballot.
Idaho Capital Sun was the first to publish this article.
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Side Pocket Images. Image courtesy Chris Wallis.