Idaho Medical Cannabis Campaign Says It Has Collected More Than 45,000 Signatures as New Poll Shows Overwhelming Voter Support for Legalization
An Idaho campaign seeking to legalize medical marijuana says it has gathered more than 45,000 signatures toward qualifying a statewide ballot initiative, while newly released polling suggests broad and bipartisan voter support for the proposal if it appears on the November ballot.
The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho (NMAI), which is backing the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act, announced on Friday that it has amassed tens of thousands of signatures through a coordinated statewide effort aimed at high-traffic locations and public events. The group says the response from voters reflects growing frustration with Idaho’s strict cannabis laws and increasing interest in regulated, medical-use access.
Idaho remains one of just four states in the country where cannabis is fully illegal for both medical and adult use.
Campaign Organizers Say Signature-Gathering Effort Has Reached a Major Milestone but More Work Remains
To qualify for the November ballot, the campaign must submit at least 70,725 valid signatures from registered voters statewide. In addition, Idaho law requires that signatures come from at least six percent of registered voters in a minimum of 18 of the state’s 35 legislative districts.
NMAI says it is on track to meet those requirements, though it has not yet disclosed how many districts it has qualified so far. The organization said its signature-gathering effort has relied on a mix of volunteer and paid petitioners deployed across urban and rural areas alike.
“We’ve had people collecting signatures at community events, farmers markets, college campuses and other public spaces,” the campaign said in a statement, adding that it plans to continue collecting signatures until the official submission deadline to account for any that may be invalidated during verification.
Advocates Say Public Enthusiasm Reflects Demand for Medical Alternatives in a State With Strict Drug Laws
Amanda Watson, communications lead for the Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho, said the strong signature turnout underscores what she described as pent-up demand for non-addictive medical treatment options.
“Idahoans are excited to finally have the chance to bring non-addictive, natural medical treatment alternatives to patients here at home,” Watson said in a press release. “With Idaho being one of just four states where cannabis is fully illegal, these numbers indicate that voters are ready for change.”
Supporters of the measure argue that Idaho patients currently face limited options for managing chronic pain, cancer symptoms and other serious medical conditions, particularly as concerns continue to grow over opioid use and addiction.
Overview of the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act and How It Would Change State Law
The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act, unveiled by NMAI in October, would establish a tightly regulated medical marijuana program administered by the state. Under the proposal, qualifying patients would be able to obtain cannabis from a limited number of licensed dispensaries with a recommendation from a health practitioner.
Health care providers would be authorized to recommend medical cannabis for a range of qualifying conditions, including—but not limited to—cancer, anxiety and acute pain. The initiative does not require physicians to participate, nor does it mandate cannabis as a first-line treatment.
Patients, or their designated caregivers, would be permitted to purchase up to 113 grams of smokeable cannabis per month, or up to 20 grams of THC extract for vaping.
Limited Market Structure, Law Enforcement Provisions and Workplace Protections Included in the Proposal
The measure would direct the state to initially issue three vertically integrated cannabis business licenses, allowing licensees to cultivate, process and sell marijuana. After that initial phase, the state could expand the program to include up to six total licenses.
Marijuana would be reclassified under Idaho law from a Schedule I controlled substance to Schedule II, acknowledging what supporters say is its accepted medical use while maintaining state oversight.
The proposal would also prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from assisting in federal drug enforcement actions related to the state’s medical cannabis program. Additionally, it includes anti-discrimination protections designed to prevent employers, landlords and educational institutions from penalizing individuals or businesses that comply with state medical marijuana laws.
The initiative does not include social equity provisions, nor does it allow for home cultivation of cannabis by patients.
Statewide Poll Shows Strong Support Across Party Lines for Medical Cannabis Legalization
Alongside the signature update, NMAI released the results of a statewide poll indicating that medical marijuana legalization enjoys widespread support among likely Idaho voters.
According to the survey, 83 percent of respondents said they support legalizing medical cannabis. That support crossed partisan lines, including 74 percent of Republicans, 95 percent of Democrats and 92 percent of independents.
When asked how they would vote if the measure appeared on the November ballot, 76 percent said they would vote “yes.” Half of respondents said they would “definitively” support the initiative, while 21 percent said they would vote “no.”
The poll surveyed 400 likely voters between October 23 and October 26 of last year and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
Earlier Cannabis Ballot Efforts in Idaho Have Failed as Political Headwinds Persist
The current campaign follows several unsuccessful attempts to advance marijuana reform in Idaho through the ballot process.
Kind Idaho, a separate organization that launched a campaign in 2024 to legalize adult-use marijuana possession and home cultivation, announced after the release of the medical initiative that it would suspend its own signature-gathering efforts.
Kind Idaho previously attempted to qualify medical marijuana measures for the 2022 and 2024 ballots, but those campaigns fell short of the required signatures.
Advocates say the current effort is benefiting from a narrower focus on medical use, which they believe resonates more strongly with Idaho’s electorate.
Lawmakers Advance Constitutional Amendment to Limit Voter-Led Drug Policy Changes
Even as the medical marijuana campaign moves forward, Idaho voters will also consider a separate proposal this year that could significantly affect future drug policy reforms.
The legislature approved a constitutional amendment that would give lawmakers exclusive authority to legalize marijuana or other controlled substances, effectively preventing voter-led initiatives from enacting such changes in the future.
Critics argue the amendment is intended to block cannabis reform efforts, while supporters say it preserves legislative oversight on complex public health and safety issues.
Legislative Efforts on Medical Cannabis and Cannabis Penalties Have Stalled in Recent Years
Legislators held a hearing last March on a bill that would have legalized medical cannabis through the legislative process, but the proposal did not advance and has seen little movement since.
Separately, Rep. Bruce Skaug (R) introduced legislation last year that would have imposed a mandatory minimum fine of $420 for marijuana possession, removing judges’ discretion to issue lesser penalties. The bill stalled in committee after drawing criticism from reform advocates.
House lawmakers also passed a bill to ban marijuana advertising, though the measure was later defeated in the Senate.
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