Idaho Medical Cannabis Advocates Surpass 45K Signatures

Medical cannabis advocates in Idaho have gathered more than 45,000
signatures seeking to get the issue on November ballots. The proposed
constitutional amendment seeks to allow the use of medical cannabis for
qualifying patients with conditions including cancer, AIDS, Crohn’s
disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and post-traumatic
stress disorder.

In a statement, Amanda Watson, communications lead for the Natural Medicine
Alliance of Idaho, the group leading the campaign, noted that the proposal
“is not a pathway to recreational legalization.”

“This is designed specifically to give the people of Idaho dignity in their
pain management process.” — Watson in a press release

The measure would establish a licensing system for producers and
dispensaries while reclassifying cannabis under state law from a Schedule 1
drug to a Schedule 2 drug to allow for medical research.

To appear on the November 2026 ballot, the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act must
secure signatures from at least 6% of registered voters statewide, based on
the last general election. Signatures must be collected in-person from at
least 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts and represent at least 6% of
each district’s voters. The deadline to collect the signatures is April 30.

State lawmakers are placing a proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution
on the November 2026 ballot, which would eliminate voters’ ability to
legalize cannabis through a ballot initiative. If approved by voters, the
amendment would allow only the Idaho Legislature to have a say in
legalizing psychoactive substances.

Watson noted that the amendment wouldn’t impact the Medical Cannabis Act
this year, but that “it would be very difficult to run our initiative again
if it doesn’t pass.”