Idaho Activists Aiming for 2024 Medical Cannabis Legalization Measure

Advocates with Kinda Idaho, a political action committee and 501(c)(4) nonprofit founded in 2021, have started the push to put a medical cannabis legalization initiative on the 2024 state ballot, according to a KTVB report. The petition to put the Idaho Medical Marijuana Act before voters will require about 74,000 valid voter signatures by April 14, 2024, in order to qualify for that year’s General Election ballot.

Idaho is one of just 12 states that continues to prohibit medical cannabis. Advocates have been pursuing medical cannabis reforms in the state for 10 years but the issue has yet to be properly considered by voters.

“One of the things that we’re looking at is making sure that those are available and legal, without necessarily presenting the opportunity for abuse. So it’s a combination of education on what the potential uses are, and responsible use.” — Joe Evans, treasurer for Kind Idaho, via KTVB

Kind Idaho plans to gather the necessary signatures through events across the state where activists will canvass for the petition, educate voters about the initiative, and grow their social media presence. The group believes they will be able to meet the necessary signature threshold to put the issue on the ballot, which is set at 7% of the state’s voters.

“We want the opportunity for Idaho residents to succeed on their own terms,” Evans said in the report. “And for many of those people on their own terms, the best solution is medical marijuana.”

A poll earlier this month found that 68% of Idaho voters believe that medical cannabis should be legalized.