Idaho Voters to Decide on Constitutional Amendment Prohibiting Marijuana Legalization
The Idaho State Senate has passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit the legalization of marijuana and other drugs through a ballot initiative. The measure, which was approved along party lines, would give the state legislature the sole authority to regulate and legalize psychoactive substances.
Sponsoring Senator Scott Grow (R-Eagle) argued that the amendment is necessary to ensure that the state’s elected representatives, rather than the people, have the final say on drug policy. “We are the elected representatives of the people,” he said. “This is a democratic republic, not a pure democracy.”
Senator Codi Galloway (R-Boise) shared her personal experience with the impact of legalizing marijuana in Nevada, where she recently opened a business. She claimed that the state has seen a significant increase in hospitalizations due to drug-related issues.
The amendment’s opponents, including Assistant Senate Democratic Leader James Ruchti (D-Pocatello), questioned why the measure doesn’t simply ban marijuana altogether, like the state constitution does with gambling. “If you feel that way, I don’t know why you’re taking such a weak approach to prohibiting marijuana use,” Ruchti said.
The proposed amendment will appear on the 2026 ballot, where it needs a simple majority to be enacted. While there have been no successful campaigns to legalize marijuana in Idaho, organizers are currently circulating a petition to decriminalize the drug, which would allow individuals 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow up to 12 plants for personal use without fear of criminal charges.
