Is Idaho Ready for Medical Marijuana?
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 at 3:20 pm | By: Radical Russ
With public perceptions of marijuana prohibition shifting nationwide, in particular among traditionally anti-drug Republicans and security officials, Idaho could join the number of states loosening drug regulations. In 2006, then-gubernatorial candidate Butch Otter told Reason Magazine, “I still support medical marijuana,” though he told BW last week that he did not think Idaho would ever legalize and that he was not “desperate” enough for new revenue to pursue it. The Idaho Republican Party debated legalization last year, the citizens of Hailey voted twice in favor of three different cannabis initiatives, and budget woes have lawmakers scrambling for new sources of revenue.
(Moscow Rep. Tom) Trail says there is currently no way to track the amount of marijuana grown in Idaho. California’s annual marijuana yield is often valued at $14 billion, nearly double the value of the state’s vegetable and grape crops combined. And the Web site marijuanalobby.org estimates that Idaho could net $12.4 million in new revenue from an 8 percent tax on medicinal marijuana and license fees.
Trail’s draft bill seeks protection for qualified patients to smoke marijuana, and for designated providers and licensed physicians to grow and possess medical marijuana. Nonmedical acquisition, possession, manufacture, sale or use would remain illegal. The state would not be liable for ill effects of medical use and patients would be limited to 60-day supplies.
Sitting at his corner cubicle in the temporary Chairmen’s Suite before the close of the 2009 legislative session, the soft-spoken Trail described the plight of Moscow residents forced by Idaho law to travel to doctors in Washington, and then risk traveling back across state lines in possession of illegal medicine. Less than 3 ounces is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine up to $1,000. More than 3 ounces is a felony, five years and a fine up to $10,000.
via Boise Weekly: News: News: Is Idaho Ready for Medical Marijuana?.
Idaho has a very strong Libertarian streak in its Republican-dominated government (last I checked, the most Republican-dominated state government in the US), so I wouldn’t be too quick to shrug off the chances of getting medical marijuana where my parents live. There is a competing Religious Right wing to the Idaho Republicans, though, that opposes anything marijuana-related.
With medical marijuana legal just over their western, southwestern, northern, and northeastern borders, Idaho stands alone with Utah and Wyoming as the only non-medical marijuana states in the West (Arizona’s got a law, it’s just inoperable.) C’mon, Idahoans, I’d love to be able to visit my folks without becoming a criminal once I hit Payette!
