Idaho Lawmakers Seek to Block Citizens from Voting on Cannabis Legalization
In a move that has raised concerns about democratic process, Idaho lawmakers have advanced a resolution that would prevent citizens from voting on cannabis legalization through ballot initiatives. The House-passed resolution, sponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug, aims to amend the state’s constitution by giving the legislature sole authority to legalize cannabis and other psychoactive substances.
The resolution, which passed with a 58-10 vote, would ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment that would give the legislature the power to regulate cannabis, narcotics, and other psychoactive substances. This would effectively block citizen-initiated ballot measures that aim to legalize medical or adult-use cannabis.
Skaug, who sponsored the resolution, argued that the move is necessary to protect the state’s residents from the dangers of cannabis and other substances. He cited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s report on drug overdose deaths, but failed to mention the DEA’s finding that no deaths from marijuana overdose have been reported.
Rep. Ilana Rubel, a Democrat from Boise, spoke out against the resolution, pointing out that over two-thirds of Idaho adults support legalizing medical cannabis. She argued that the resolution would strip power from the people and prevent them from making their own decisions about cannabis legalization.
The resolution now needs a two-thirds supermajority vote in the Idaho Senate before it can be placed on the 2026 ballot. Meanwhile, a separate petition, sponsored by Kind Idaho, is circulating to legalize adult-use cannabis through the initiative process.
The petition, which aims to allow adults 21 and older to possess and grow cannabis, has already gained significant support. However, the resolution’s passage has raised concerns about the role of democracy in shaping public policy.
Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML, a cannabis advocacy organization, criticized the resolution, saying that it is undemocratic and out of step with the majority of Idahoans. He argued that lawmakers are seeking to remove voters from the equation and impose their own views on the issue.
The move comes as Idaho remains one of the few states without a medical cannabis program, despite growing support for legalization across the country.
