Medical Marijuana in Idaho

In recent years, several initiatives to legalize and regulate the medical use of cannabis and marijuana had failed, leaving the future of medical marijuana in Idaho very uncertain.

History

Back in the early 20th century, the medical use of cannabis oil and marijuana was legal in Idaho like the majority of US states at the time. However, after WWI, cannabis prohibition swept through the nation. Finally, in 1927, Idaho outlawed the drug completely. That meant that marijuana and cannabis oil were eliminated from medical practice, as well.

After WWII, the laws prohibiting both the recreational and medical use of marijuana and cannabis oil remained unchanged. Despite the legalization and decriminalization movements across the country, Idaho remained vehement in its prohibition of marijuana and cannabis oil throughout the second half of the 20th century.

By the second decade of the 21st century, most states have legalized the use of cannabis oil and/or marijuana for medical purposes in some form or another. States like Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, and others legalized the use of CBD oil, while Arkansas, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and several other states legalized medical marijuana along with CBD. Colorado, Maine, Michigan, California, Alaska, Washington, and several other states legalized the recreational use of marijuana, as well.

As of this writing, medical marijuana is illegal in Idaho. Together with Nebraska and Kansas, the Gem State is the only state which completely prohibits the use of marijuana and cannabis oil for medical purposes.

2013 Statement Against Legalization

To make things even bleaker for patients suffering from terminal and debilitating diseases and conditions, Idaho’s legislature approved a preemptive statement which expressed their opposition to an eventual legalization of the drug. Through it all, public support for medical marijuana rose among the residents of Idaho, eventually leading to Bill 1146a in 2015.

Bill 1146a

Two years after the 2013 Statement Against Legalization, a new initiative to legalize non-psychoactive CBD oil for medical use reached the Legislature. The initiative, embodied in Bill 1146a, was passed by both the State Senate and the House. However, Idaho’s Governor Butch Otter vetoed the bill, preventing it from becoming law. Mr. Otter cited the bill’s conflict with federal law, its ignoring of scientific research, and potential abuse of the system by patients and caregivers as his reasons for the veto.

If signed into law, the bill would have allowed for the use of CBD oil to treat adults and children with severe forms of epilepsy.

It would take another 3 years for another initiative to gather significant momentum and public support.

2018 Initiative

Another unsuccessful initiative to legalize the medical marijuana happened in 2018. The initiative was spearheaded by Tesla Gillespie who was the president of the Idaho Medical Marijuana Association at the time. The initiative failed due to a lack of funding and coordination among proponents.

For an initiative to appear on the November ballot, the proponents have to gather at least 56,192 signatures (6% of Idaho’s total registered voters) from 18 of 35 of Idaho House of Representative districts. The initiative failed to gather the required number of signatures before the April 30 deadline so it didn’t make it on the election day ballot.

The Situation

Following the demise of the 2018 initiative, Idaho remains one of the very few states without a medical marijuana system. There are no dispensaries around the country, nor are physicians authorized to issue medical marijuana recommendations to their patients.

Likewise, Idaho doesn’t have a registration system for potential patients and caregivers. The possession, selling, buying, and growing of marijuana are prohibited by Idaho laws.

Conclusion 

Idaho has traditionally been among the most conservative US states regarding the use of marijuana and cannabis oil for medical purposes. As of this writing, it is one of only three states where there’s no way for patients to legally obtain or use the drug. The other two states are Kansas and Nebraska.

Owing to the conservatism of the State Legislature and the November ballot requirements, all subsequent legalization initiatives will have a hard time succeeding. Nonetheless, the public climate is slowly changing in favor of legalizing medical marijuana in Idaho.