Idaho Advocates Approved to Collect Signatures for 2026 Medical Cannabis Legalization Bid

Idaho officials last week approved cannabis advocates in the state to begin
collecting signatures for a 2026 medical cannabis legalization ballot
initiative, East Idaho News reports.

The Boise-based campaign, Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho, has until
April 30 to collect and submit at least 70,000 valid Idaho voter signatures
to qualify for next year’s ballot. Additionally, at least 6% of petition
signatures must come from voters representing at least 18 of the state’s 35
legislative districts, the report said.

If passed by voters, the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act would establish
licenses for the cultivation and retail of medical cannabis products and
would reclassify cannabis as a Schedule II substance under state law,
enabling new research opportunities.

Participants in the proposed medical cannabis program would need to be
referred by an authorized medical professional, and only patients with
debilitating conditions like chronic pain, cancer, AIDS, multiple
sclerosis, epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), or Alzheimer’s would be eligible.

Meanwhile, Idaho lawmakers are asking voters in a separate ballot
initiative to rescind their right to enact cannabis reforms or pass other
drug reform laws via the ballot initiative process. The bill to put the
question to voters cleared both legislative chambers in March.

Idaho is one of just six U.S. states that have yet to pass any significant
cannabis reforms. Four of its five neighboring states — Washington, Oregon,
Nevada, and Montana — plus Canada have all enacted adult-use legalization
laws.