Idaho Medical Cannabis Advocates Reach 100,000 Signatures
A group of medical cannabis advocates in Idaho has gathered over 100,000 signatures in support of a proposed ballot initiative to legalize medical cannabis in the state. The initiative, known as the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act, aims to provide patients with debilitating medical conditions an alternative to opioid medications.
The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho, the organization behind the initiative, is pushing to get the measure on the November general election ballot. To qualify, they need to collect signatures from 6% of registered voters statewide, which is approximately 70,725 valid signatures, as well as signatures from 6% of registered voters in at least 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts.
The initiative would allow patients with serious medical conditions, such as cancer, PTSD, AIDS, epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, or Alzheimer’s disease, to access medical cannabis as a treatment option. The proposal would also establish a framework for the production, distribution, and sale of medical cannabis, including the issuance of licenses to growers, processors, and retailers.
Amanda Watson, a Boise-based spokeswoman for the initiative, said that many people are seeking alternative treatments to opioids, which can have severe side effects. “We’ve had hundreds of people email us about how they’re suffering with PTSD or they’re suffering with epilepsy and they’re driving across the border and illegally buying gummies because they would like some dignity in their care, in their state, but they can’t get it, and they’re still accessing these things because they’re right there and available,” she said.
The initiative has gained support from individuals who have experienced the benefits of medical cannabis firsthand. Rob Cronin, a Sun Valley businessman and chairperson of the Natural Medicine Alliance PAC, is a cancer survivor who credits medical cannabis with helping him manage his pain. He said that he would have chosen a cannabis alternative to opioids, as the opioid medication he was prescribed caused severe side effects.
Despite the growing support for the initiative, the Idaho Legislature has come out in opposition. The Republican-controlled legislature has passed a competing marijuana measure and is urging voters to reject the medical cannabis ballot initiative. The legislature has also adopted a resolution warning that the legalization of medical cannabis would lead to widespread recreational use and increased costs for the state.
The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho is using paid signature-gatherers to collect the necessary signatures and is cautiously optimistic that they will meet the deadline. If the initiative qualifies for the November ballot, it would take a simple majority of votes to pass.
