Idaho
Idaho Lawmakers Push For Medical Cannabis Legalization
Close up doctor holding marijuana bud
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
BOISE, Idaho (Idaho Capital Sun) — Day use access fees at all Idaho state parks will be waived for Idaho residents on July 4 as part of a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Gov. Brad Little announced Friday, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun.
“As we prepare to mark 250 years of American independence, there is no better way to celebrate than by getting outside with our loved ones and enjoying the freedoms and natural treasures that define our great nation,” Little said Friday. “Idaho’s state parks showcase the very best of our state, and we are proud to welcome families, friends and visitors to explore them free of charge during this special occasion.”
While day use fees for Idaho residents will be waived, normal camping and reservation fees will apply, officials said.
Idaho has 28 state parks, which offer a variety of recreational and outdoor activities including hiking, horseback riding, skiing, bird watching, rock climbing, fishing, boating, swimming, bicycling and more.
State officials with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation are in the process of unveiling improvements and enhancements at several state parks, including Lucky Peak State Park outside of Boise, which recently opened a new dog beach and accessible kayak launch on the Boise River.
Other state parks include Bruneau Dunes State Park and Observatory, Harriman State Park, Bear Lake State Park and City of Rocks National Reserve, which is a national reserve and state park that attracts climbers from all over the world to its dramatic granite rock spires.
Little said the July 4 fee waiver is a part of a larger effort to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being signed in 1776.
Copyright 2026 KMVT. All rights reserved.
We’re lucky to live in a place as safe as the Treasure Valley. Despite our growth, one of the things that makes our area so special is the way that we look out for one another–for our neighbors! That’s a principle that seems to have held on as Boise has boomed.
Despite low crime rates, there seems to always be one incident or so that makes us scratch our heads.
A recent string of fraud incidents in the Treasure Valley area is one of those.
Nampa Police initially warned the public of this because cases of fraud began to ‘mushroom’. Then, it took an interesting turn–people that HAD their credit cards were being ‘taken to the bank’, so to speak.
In a statement originally released on April 30th by the Nampa Police Department, officials advised the following:
We are not sure how the suspects are gaining access to the victim’s credit cards. There is a growing fraud scheme, “ghost tapping”, that scammers are using to access victims’ credit cards. This is possibly occurring in these instances. “Ghost tapping” uses stolen credit card details in Apple Pay or Google Pay, then remotely relays the tap signal over the internet to a ‘mule’ at a store, allowing them to make high-value purchases that appear completely legitimate. (We’ll share more information on ghost tapping in a later public service announcement that will also suggest ways to protect yourself.) The app used by these criminals obscures the actual credit card number, making it harder for investigators to link a victim to a particular crime. Keep in mind that victims still have their physical credit cards while suspects use the stolen card information to make purchases, which also affects how victims are alerted. So far, local investigators have not been able to identify a common theme among the victims (e.g., a specific bank, a website they visited, a gas pump they used, etc.) in the fraud cases we are investigating.
The investigation spans far and wide.
Authorities say that some suspects are in custody, others are being contacted, and others are still at large.
Now, a week later, the police are back to reaching out to the public–this time, urging people to check their bank accounts.
Nampa Police say that they have caught onto a pattern– there are fraudulent charges at Albertson’s to purchase gift cards, at Costco to purchase Apple products, and at Best Buy, also for Apple products.
Check those bank statements!
Inside The Arrest of 3 Venezuelan Fraudsters
What on earth was happening in Eagle this week?
Gallery Credit: Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
It’s Not Hard To See Why This Idaho Police Photoshoot Is Going Viral
The Jerome Police Department is going viral thanks to Twin Falls photographer, Layton Henderson. Once you see the hilarious photos, you’ll see why!
Gallery Credit: Chris Cardenas
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