Cannabis in Idaho
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Cannabis in Idaho is fully illegal for any use, whether recreational or medical. The laws on cannabis prohibition in Idaho are among the most severe in the United States, with possession of even small amounts of it a misdemeanor crime, and no legality of medical marijuana.{{Cite news|last=Ball|first=Linda|date=February 1, 2019|title=Why Idaho remains a pot-free island|work=The Spokesman-Review|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/feb/01/why-idaho-remains-pot-free-island/|url-status=live|access-date=December 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118165755/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/feb/01/why-idaho-remains-pot-free-island/|archive-date=January 18, 2021}} As of 2018, support for the legalization of medical cannabis is broadly popular in the state, while legalization of the drug recreationally remains a wedge issue.{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Nathan|date=October 7, 2018|title=As opinions shift, marijuana emerges as wedge issue|work=Post Register|url=https://www.postregister.com/news/government/as-opinions-shift-marijuana-emerges-as-wedge-issue/article_57a39240-389e-54bc-9a5f-0f5888359575.html|url-status=live|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115072913/https://www.postregister.com/news/government/as-opinions-shift-marijuana-emerges-as-wedge-issue/article_57a39240-389e-54bc-9a5f-0f5888359575.html|archive-date=January 15, 2019}} Both the state's legislature as a whole and its governor, Brad Little, remain staunchly opposed to its legalization for medicinal or recreational purposes.
In February 2021, cannabidiol with up to 0.1% THC content was descheduled in the form of the prescription drug Epidiolex. Two months later, production and transport of hemp with a THC content of up to 0.3% was legalized.
Prohibition
{{See also|Legal history of cannabis in the United States}}
In the early 20th century, amidst a nationwide trend of cannabis prohibition, Idaho outlawed the drug in 1927.{{cite book|author=Davenport-Hines|first=Richard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mus3AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT126|title=The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Social History of Drugs|publisher=Orion Publishing Group|year=2012|isbn=978-1-78022-542-5|pages=126–}} In the same period, the mayor of Boise noted his concerns:
{{blockquote|The Mexican beet field workers have introduced a new problem-the smoking in cigarettes or pipes of marijuana or grifo. its use is as demoralizing as the use of narcotics. Smoking grifo is quite prevalent along the Oregon Short Line Railroad; and Idaho has no law to cope with the use and spread of this dangerous drug (WCTU, 1928: 3).{{cite web|url=http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/studies/nc/nc2_2.htm |title=History of Marihuana Legislation - State Prohibition - 1914-1930 |publisher=Druglibrary.org |access-date=2017-03-09}}}}
In 2013, the Idaho Legislature preemptively approved a statement of their opposition to ever legalizing cannabis.{{cite web|url=https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2013/legislation/SCR112/ |title=SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 112 – Idaho State Legislature |publisher=Legislature.idaho.gov |date=2014-06-20 |access-date=2017-03-09}}{{cite news|last=Graf|first=Scott|date=March 27, 2013|title=Idaho Lawmakers, Cities Want No Part Of Relaxed Marijuana Laws|publisher=Boise State Public Radio|url=https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-government/2013-03-27/idaho-lawmakers-cities-want-no-part-of-relaxed-marijuana-laws|url-status=live|access-date=March 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224143355/http://boisestatepublicradio.org/post/idaho-lawmakers-cities-want-no-part-relaxed-marijuana-laws|archive-date=December 24, 2013}}
On February 3, 2021, as a response to the legalization of cannabis in surrounding states, the Idaho Senate approved a constitutional amendment introduced by C. Scott Grow banning the legalization of cannabis – or any other Schedule I or Schedule II drug{{Cite news|last=Norimine|first=Hayat|date=April 15, 2021|title=Idaho Republicans tried to block any future marijuana legalization. How’d it turn out?|work=Idaho Statesman|url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article250698864.html|url-status=live|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210503205111/https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article250698864.html|archive-date=May 3, 2021}} – with a vote of 24–11.{{Cite news|last=Ridler|first=Keith|date=February 3, 2021|title=Idaho Senate approves constitutional ban on legal marijuana|agency=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/constitutions-medical-marijuana-legislation-marijuana-idaho-56388b6b5ca7cbaa4ed695393c8ea899|url-status=live|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215120716/https://apnews.com/article/constitutions-medical-marijuana-legislation-marijuana-idaho-56388b6b5ca7cbaa4ed695393c8ea899|archive-date=February 15, 2021}}{{Cite news|last=Dawson|first=James|date=February 4, 2021|title=Idaho Senate Passes Anti-Marijuana Constitutional Amendment By 1 Vote|publisher=Boise State Public Radio|url=https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-government/2021-02-04/idaho-senate-passes-anti-marijuana-constitutional-amendment-by-1-vote|url-status=live|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503223614/https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-government/2021-02-04/idaho-senate-passes-anti-marijuana-constitutional-amendment-by-1-vote|archive-date=May 3, 2021}} On April 15, the amendment failed in the Idaho House of Representatives, who voted 42–28 in favor of the amendment – falling five votes short of the required two-thirds supermajority.{{Cite news|last=Ridler|first=Keith|date=April 15, 2021|title=Constitutional ban on legal marijuana dies in Idaho House|agency=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/legislature-constitutions-legislation-marijuana-boise-30e825b92b0e4b667a431fa54c7da2a7|url-status=live|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416134626/https://apnews.com/article/legislature-constitutions-legislation-marijuana-boise-30e825b92b0e4b667a431fa54c7da2a7|archive-date=April 16, 2021}}{{Cite news|last=Russell|first=Betsy Z.|date=April 15, 2021|title=Idaho House rejects anti-drug constitutional amendment|work=The Idaho Press-Tribune|url=https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-house-rejects-anti-drug-constitutional-amendment/article_4d28e507-5171-5f65-a455-887ae4c7fc6b.html|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210503202233/https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-house-rejects-anti-drug-constitutional-amendment/article_4d28e507-5171-5f65-a455-887ae4c7fc6b.html|archive-date=May 3, 2021}} No Democratic member of either chamber voted in favor of the amendment, and a handful of Republicans in both chambers voted in opposition as well.
In 2025, Bruce Skaug sponsored two Prohibitionist laws regarding marijuana in Idaho. Skaug was floor sponsor of “House Joint Resolution 4” which removed the ability to legalize marijuana in the state of Idaho from anyone besides the legislature.https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/HJR004/ Skaug also introduced “House Bill 7” to place minimum sentences and fines on citizens arrested in Idaho with possession of any small amount of marijuana.https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/h0007
Reform
Attempts to field ballot initiatives to vote on medical cannabis failed in 2012 and 2014 due to insufficient signatures, and a 2016 attempt was withdrawn before the signatures were counted. In 2018 another attempt was drawn when its organizer had to quit to care for her ailing son.{{Cite news|last=Pauli|first=Hunter|date=April 29, 2018|title=Push to legitimize Idaho pot is up in smoke…again|work=The Spokesman-Review|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/apr/29/push-to-legitamize-idaho-pot-up-in-smokeagain/|url-status=live|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112013446/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/apr/29/push-to-legitamize-idaho-pot-up-in-smokeagain/|archive-date=November 12, 2020}} In 2020, another effort to put medical marijuana on the ballot was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|last=Jaeger|first=Kyle|date=April 2, 2020|title=Idaho Activists Suspend Campaign To Legalize Medical Marijuana Due To Coronavirus|work=Marijuana Moment|url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/idaho-activists-suspend-campaign-to-legalize-medical-marijuana-due-to-coronavirus/|url-status=live|access-date=May 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119130118/https://www.marijuanamoment.net/idaho-activists-suspend-campaign-to-legalize-medical-marijuana-due-to-coronavirus/|archive-date=January 19, 2021}}{{Cite news|last=Kopp|first=Emily|date=October 21, 2020|title=Five more states voting this fall on legalizing marijuana|work=Roll Call|url=https://www.rollcall.com/2020/10/21/five-more-states-voting-this-fall-on-legalizing-marijuana/|url-status=live|access-date=May 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207220107/https://www.rollcall.com/2020/10/21/five-more-states-voting-this-fall-on-legalizing-marijuana/|archive-date=December 7, 2020}}
Senate Bill 1146a, which would have legalized CBD oil for persons with severe epilepsy, passed the Idaho Legislature following "lengthy and emotional" hearings, but was vetoed by Governor Butch Otter in April 2015.{{cite news|date=April 16, 2015|title=Otter vetoes marijuana extract oil bill|work=Idaho Statesman|url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article40853778.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 25, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210503191859/https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article40853778.html|archive-date=May 3, 2021}}{{Cite news|date=April 16, 2015|title=Otter vetoes cannabis oil bill|publisher=KBOI-TV|agency=Associated Press|url=https://idahonews.com/news/local/otter-vetoes-cannabis-oil-bill|url-status=live|access-date=December 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308190802/https://idahonews.com/news/local/otter-vetoes-cannabis-oil-bill|archive-date=March 8, 2021}}
In his veto, Otter stated:
It ignores ongoing scientific testing on alternative treatments... It asks us to trust but not to verify. It asks us to legalize the limited use of cannabidiol oil, contrary to federal law. And it asks us to look past the potential for misuse and abuse with criminal intent.{{cite news|last=Russell|first=Betsy Z.|date=April 16, 2015|title=Otter vetoes bill to allow CBD oil to be used to treat sick Idaho kids | The Spokesman-Review|work=The Spokesman-Review|url=http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2015/apr/16/otter-vetoes-bill-allow-cbd-oil-be-used-treat-sick-idaho-kids/|url-status=live|access-date=August 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124204118/https://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2015/apr/16/otter-vetoes-bill-allow-cbd-oil-be-used-treat-sick-idaho-kids/|archive-date=November 24, 2020}}{{Cite web|last=Otter|first=C. L. "Butch"|author-link=Butch Otter|date=April 16, 2015|title=S1146a Veto|url=https://media.spokesman.com/documents/2015/04/cbd-veto-letter.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323010759/https://media.spokesman.com/documents/2015/04/cbd-veto-letter.pdf|archive-date=March 23, 2021|access-date=May 3, 2021|via=The Spokesman-Review}}The Idaho Attorney General, in report 132–133,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ag.idaho.gov/content/uploads/2017/12/2015.pdf|title=IDAHO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ANNUAL REPORT|last=Wasden|first=Lawrence G.|date=2015|publisher=Idaho Office of Drug Policy|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711101401/https://www.ag.idaho.gov/content/uploads/2017/12/2015.pdf|archive-date=July 11, 2019|access-date=Nov 12, 2019}} clarified in 2015 that CBD containing 0% THC is permissible as long as it is derived from one of the five identified (non-flower) parts of the cannabis plant.{{Cite web|title=Cannabidiol (CBD)|url=https://odp.idaho.gov/cannibidiol/|url-status=live|access-date=November 12, 2019|publisher=Idaho Office of Drug Policy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628115902/https://odp.idaho.gov/cannibidiol/ |archive-date=June 28, 2019 }}
On February 8, 2021, the Senate passed SB 1017 by a vote of 30–3, which included a provision for removing Epidiolex, a brand of prescription cannabidiol, from its Schedule V listing and limiting its THC content to 0.1%.{{Cite news|last=Russell|first=Betsy Z.|date=February 8, 2021|title=Senate backs annual drug-update bill that includes Epidiolex, 30-3|work=The Idaho Press-Tribune|url=https://www.idahopress.com/eyeonboise/senate-backs-annual-drug-update-bill-that-includes-epidiolex-30-3/article_74614c73-08bc-51a6-b1d0-8126c13ccffa.html|url-status=live|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208231906/https://www.idahopress.com/eyeonboise/senate-backs-annual-drug-update-bill-that-includes-epidiolex-30-3/article_74614c73-08bc-51a6-b1d0-8126c13ccffa.html|archive-date=February 8, 2021}} On February 19, it was passed by the House, and on February 26, Governor Brad Little signed the bill into law.{{Cite web|title=SENATE BILL 1017 – Idaho State Legislature|url=https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2021/legislation/s1017/|access-date=2021-04-25|language=en-US}}
On April 16, after a 44–26 vote in the House and a 30–5 vote in the Senate, Little signed House Bill 126, legalizing the production and transport of hemp with up to 0.3% THC content, making Idaho the final state to legalize the crop after it was legalized federally in 2018.{{Cite news|date=April 19, 2021|title=Idaho Gov. signs bill allowing growing, transport of hemp|agency=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/brad-little-marijuana-idaho-laws-4fb1469a1670d43f70cf12c8b3d68ed5|url-status=live|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503200658/https://apnews.com/article/brad-little-marijuana-idaho-laws-4fb1469a1670d43f70cf12c8b3d68ed5|archive-date=May 3, 2021}}{{Cite news|last=Suppe|first=Ryan|last2=Spacek|first2=Rachel|date=April 19, 2021|title=Hemp legalization to help crop diversity in rural communities, bring in additional revenue|work=The Idaho Press-Tribune|url=https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/hemp-legalization-to-help-crop-diversity-in-rural-communities-bring-in-additional-revenue/article_3f955f8c-654f-578d-bb64-eea0f9476610.html|url-status=live|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421061755/https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/hemp-legalization-to-help-crop-diversity-in-rural-communities-bring-in-additional-revenue/article_3f955f8c-654f-578d-bb64-eea0f9476610.html|archive-date=April 21, 2021}}