Just days following the Idaho Senate’s approval of a bill to revise the state constitution in a bid to halt voter-initiated attempts at legalizing cannabis, Idaho House lawmakers have introduced a bill that would legalize medical cannabis.
State Rep. Jordan Redman (R-Coeur d’Alene) sponsored a bipartisan medical cannabis legalization bill this week, named Sgt. Kitzhaber Medical Cannabis Act, along with Rep. Ilana Rubel (D-Boise).
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Idaho has one of the strictest cannabis laws in the United States and is the only state with neither recreational nor medical cannabis legislation. But that may change with this bill, which would establish a legalized medical cannabis program in which its citizens might be able to use cannabis for medical purposes.
What’s Inside The Bill To Legalize Medical Cannabis In Idaho?
The bill aims to reschedule cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2 controlled substances in the Idaho code, and it makes efforts to legalize the use of medical cannabis for patients having valid medical conditions to provide therapeutic relief to patients suffering from illnesses such as cancer, epilepsy, chronic pain, PTSD, and others.
Patients above the age of 21, at the behest of a certified practitioner, can avail of a medical cannabis card that would be valid for one year. The licensed practitioners who prescribe the patients must be certified to prescribe Schedule 2 drugs.
In ensuring effective regulation, the bill envisions an electronic verification system to be run by the Idaho State Board of Pharmacy. It will issue and keep track of medical cannabis cards and also create patient and caregiver cards to ensure the effective regulation of the use of cannabis.
The bill creates limits on the possession, transportation, and use of cannabis products. Patients can possess up to 60 grams of raw flower with a THC content of up to 22% or 4,000 milligrams of THC, but public smoking remains prohibited.
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Significantly, the bill provides legal protection for allowed users such that they cannot be held liable for the possession of cannabis within law-defined limits. However, the bill establishes strict punitive measures against illegal participation in the sale or distribution of cannabis, like criminal prosecution and cancellation of a medical cannabis card for life.
The bill also goes ahead to elucidate that growing, selling, or producing cannabis is prohibited in Idaho.
The bill also offers other provisions on practitioner education, prescribing practices, and discrimination protection in employment and medical treatment for medical cannabis patients. Medical cannabis is not required to be covered by insurers.
Enforcement and compliance are also addressed by rulemaking provisions and the creation of an annual report on the program’s effectiveness. The bill further stipulates that abuse, including the illegal sale or distribution of cannabis, will be met with harsh legal sanctions.
Finally, the bill places a high premium on the responsibility of the Idaho State Board of Pharmacy to oversee the functioning of the program, creating a system for smooth operation and control across the state.
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Idaho Lawmakers Push To Prevent People From Having A Say In Cannabis Reform
The bill was introduced a few days after the Idaho Senate approved HJR4, a resolution that would take away voters’ ability to legalize cannabis through statewide ballot initiatives. The measure will be put in the 2026 election, and it will ask voters if the state constitution should be changed to allow only the legislature to legalize cannabis and other drugs.
Supporters of the ban on voters’ ability to legalize cannabis argue it protects Idaho’s values, while critics view the resolution as weakening democracy. “Whether or not one personally supports or opposes cannabis legalization, these overtly undemocratic tactics ought to be a cause of deep concern,” said NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano in a press statement.
Later last year, Idaho activists with Kind Idaho also filed a ballot measure to decriminalize cannabis for personal use in the 2026 election. If passed, the measure would allow adults 21 and over to possess, produce, and cultivate cannabis for personal use but not for sale and public consumption.
Despite Idaho having some of the most draconian cannabis laws in the United States, where possession of even small amounts is a misdemeanor, public sentiment is becoming increasingly favorable toward medical cannabis. A 2022 survey showed that nearly 70% of Idahoans support legalizing medical cannabis.
Legislative attempts to legalize medical cannabis through ballot initiatives have repeatedly failed, and in 2021, the legislature attempted to ban future efforts to legalize it through a constitutional amendment, which also failed.
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Minor changes have occurred, including the descheduling of the prescription medication Epidiolex in 2021 and the legalization of hemp cultivation and transport with up to 0.3% THC.
GARDEN CITY – A Boise-area girl is competing in the 2026 Junior Ranger Competition, and she needs your vote to advance.
Eleven-year-old Cali Lindsay of Garden City is currently in the top 10 in her age group. The first place contestant in each group will advance to the semi-finals, which will wrap on July 17.
The final round concludes on July 24. The winner will be awarded $20,000 and be featured on the cover of Ranger Rick Magazine. They’ll also win a trip with Jeff Corwin.
Cali’s mom, Emily Edginton, tells EastIdahoNews.com how the competition works.
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“You’re allowed one free vote every 24 hours. People can also pay (to vote),” Edginton says. “The contestants have challenges every week to learn about animals and share what they’ve learned. People vote for the answer they like best. If you have enough votes, you move to the next round.”
Cali needs to secure enough votes by Thursday in order to advance to the next round.
The competition is a fundraiser for the National Wildlife Federation, the largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization in the United States.
Edginton says they recently moved to Idaho from San Bernardino, California. Her daughter acquired a love of wildlife living in Lytle Creek, a community near the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino National Forest.
“She’s already like a junior ranger. We picked up trash (in the forest) for fun,” Edginton says. “We try to keep it clean because we get a lot of visitors up there in the summertime and they trash the place. It affects the animals.”
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Edginton says they moved to Idaho in February to be closer to family.
She’s grateful her daughter can be part of what she feels is a great cause, and hopes to see her advance, and even win the tournament.
“It’s a good cause, plus it’s a learning experience,” says Edginton.
To vote for Cali or learn more, click here.
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JACKSON, Wyo. — Springtime conjures images of adorable baby animals. Unfortunately, sometimes well-meaning humans feel compelled to interfere with Mother Nature by “rescuing” baby animals who appear to be alone.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) issued a spring reminder discouraging people from intervening when they assume a wild animal is lost, abandoned or orphaned.
“While these folks typically mean well, the sad reality is they are often doing more damage than good when they intervene — and typically, mom was not far away to begin with,” IDFG shared in a press release.
“Here’s the hard truth,” the agency wrote. “Animal parents will periodically leave their young for an extended period of time for a myriad of reasons, whether it’s to search for food, to rest or to divert attention from their vulnerable offspring, especially if they sense danger. When it comes to wildlife babies, wildlife mothers know best.”
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In short, in an encounter with a lone duckling, gosling, deer fawn, baby bird, red dog or moose calf, do not disturb it. Instead, contact the state’s wildlife agency to report it. In Jackson, call the Wyoming Game and Fish Department at (307) 733-2321. In Idaho, reach IDFG at (208) 525-7290.
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