Idaho Senate Committee Approves Constitutional Amendment to Regulate Marijuana
A proposed constitutional amendment that would give state lawmakers sole discretion over legalizing marijuana in Idaho has cleared a Senate committee. If approved, the amendment would prevent Idahoans from legalizing marijuana or any other drug through a ballot initiative, a move that has been feared by Republican legislators, law enforcement, and the state’s farm bureau organization.
Senator Scott Grow (R-Eagle) argued that the amendment is necessary to keep families safe from the high-potency drugs that are currently available. He has sponsored similar failed constitutional amendments in the past.
On the other side, Alex Joye Grenier from Star expressed concerns about the potential impact of legal marijuana on crime rates. He pointed to the nearby town of Ontario, Oregon, which has seen an increase in crime since it allowed retail sales of marijuana in 2018.
Joseph Evans, a former Libertarian congressional candidate and supporter of a medical marijuana ballot initiative, was the only person to oppose the amendment. He argued that medical marijuana has significant benefits for patients, including veterans with PTSD, and that it should be legalized as a natural remedy.
The amendment still needs to be approved by two-thirds of the state senators before it can appear on the 2026 ballot.
