Idaho voters on Tuesday rejected House Joint Resolution 4, a proposal by lawmakers to amend the state Constitution and declare that only the Legislature has the power to enact drug reforms. If voters approved the resolution, they would have voluntarily given up their own ability to organize a ballot initiative to legalize or regulate a controlled substance like cannabis.
“Idaho voters have scored a major victory for citizen-led advocacy and common sense by soundly rejecting HJR 4,” said Adam J. Smith, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP).
“HJR 4 was the legislature’s effort to silence their constituents on this or any other common-sense drug policy reform once and for all. We applaud Idaho’s voters for sending this powerful message to their elected representatives, and we hope this leads to an even stronger effort in the coming cycle to allow voters to override their legislature’s obstinacy.” — Smith, in a statement
Meanwhile, advocates tried to put a medical cannabis legalization question on the ballot this year, but state officials said the campaign fell short of the threshold needed to qualify.
Cannabis remains strictly prohibited in Idaho, with no exceptions granted even for medical purposes.
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