Idaho voters will decide on House Joint Resolution 4 this November. The measure would amend the state constitution. It states, “Only the legislature of the state of Idaho shall have power and authority to legalize … marijuana or other psychoactive substances.”
If passed, voters would lose any say in determining Idaho’s drug policies. NORML argues that is “not anti-marijuana, that’s anti-democracy.” The organization is urging Idahoans to reject the resolution.
NORML says state officials do not trust voters on the marijuana issue. The group contends lawmakers know their views are out of step with most Idahoans.
Nearly 70 percent of Idahoans say “the use of marijuana for medical purposes should be made legal.” That figure comes from a poll cited by NORML. Despite that support, most lawmakers oppose reform.
NORML’s commentary, authored by Deputy Director Paul Armentano, originally appeared in Marijuana Moment. The group says the tactic should concern all voters, regardless of their cannabis views.
NORML says voters have been far ahead of elected officials on legalization for decades. Many of the 41 states with legal medical cannabis access achieved it by voter initiative. The same is true of the 24 states where marijuana is legal for adults.
The group says politicians dragged their feet and voters took matters into their own hands. No state has ever repealed its marijuana legalization laws.
NORML says this reality has Idaho lawmakers “running scared.” Republicans especially, the group argues, know their cannabis views are unpopular. Rather than evolve, they would eliminate voters from the democratic process.
In a healthy democracy, NORML argues, competing policy visions vie for voter support through persuasion and evidence. The group says Idaho lawmakers can no longer make a rational case for the state’s prohibitive and punitive policies.
Those policies are out of step with most other states and most Idahoans, according to the organization. The resolution asks Idahoans to relinquish their power to vote on the issue.
The amendment will appear on Idaho’s November ballot. Voters will have the final decision on whether to approve it.
A rejection would preserve the initiative process for future cannabis policy changes. Approval would permanently reserve legalization authority for the legislature.
NORML has made the measure a focus of its election advocacy. The group says the stakes go beyond marijuana policy itself.
Additional information on HJR 4 is available from NORML’s Election Central. The group also tracks other marijuana-related ballot measures there.
The November vote will determine whether voters can ever change that directly.
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