Proponents of a ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana in Idaho can start collecting signatures.
The official language is complete and the Attorney General’s office has forwarded the legal titles to the Secretary of State’s office. The initiative, sponsored by the Idaho Cannabis Coalition, would establish a registry of patients, caregivers, growers, and agents who could use or possess medical marijuana, and allow patients to possess up to 4 ounces of marijuana or up to six plants. A caregiver could possess up to the same amount per patient.
Eleven states have legalized recreational marijuana and another 23 have legalized medical pot. Idaho is one of just three states that hasn’t legalized cannabis in any form.
The Idaho Legislature this year failed to pass measures legalizing hemp, which is legal at the federal level.
Washington, Oregon, and Montana allow recreational pot, and Wyoming is Idaho’s only neighboring state that doesn’t allow medical marijuana.
To qualify the initiative for Idaho’s ballot, proponents need to gather the signatures of more than 55,000 registered voters, or 6 percent of the number of registered voters at the time of the November 2018 election. The signatures must be distributed across at least 18 of the state’s 35 legislative districts, with the signatures 6 percent of registered voters in those 18 districts.
The required signatures must be submitted by next April 30th to qualify for the November 2020 ballot. (Post Register)
