Idaho voters preserve the ballot initiative route for cannabis legalization

Idaho voters rejected a constitutional amendment Tuesday that would have given the Legislature sole authority to legalize marijuana, narcotics, and other psychoactive substances. About 66% opposed House Joint Resolution 4 and 34% supported it in unofficial results.

The amendment would have reserved decisions over legalizing activities such as growing, selling, prescribing, possessing, and using those substances for lawmakers. That would have closed the citizen initiative route for a future medical or adult-use cannabis proposal. The Legislature put the amendment on the ballot after the House voted 58-10 and the Senate voted 29-6 to refer it in 2025.

Medical and adult-use marijuana remain illegal under Idaho law. A separate proposal, the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act, fell short of qualifying for the November ballot. The secretary of state’s office said organizers failed to submit enough valid signatures statewide and in the required number of legislative districts.

Future campaigns can still pursue an initiative if they meet Idaho’s qualification requirements.