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Idaho Medical Marijuana Initiative (2016)
| Medical Marijuana Initiative | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Statute |
| Origin | Citizens |
| Topic | Marijuana |
| Status | Not on the ballot |
| Voting on Marijuana | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Ballot Measures | |||
| By state | |||
| By year | |||
| Not on ballot | |||
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| Not on Ballot |
|---|
 |
| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Medical Marijuana Initiative was not put on the November 8, 2016, ballot in Idaho as an initiated state statute.
The measure would have legalized medical marijuana and decriminalized possessing up to three ounces of marijuana.[1][2]
Text of measure
Short ballot title
The short ballot title read as:[2]
| “ | An initiative legalizing medical marijuana, decriminalizing possession of three ounces or less of marijuana; establishing industrial hemp program.[3] | ” |
Long ballot title
The long ballot title read as:[2]
| “ | An initiative relating to medical marijuana; amending title 39, Idaho code, by adding a new chapter 92, to be known as the "Idaho Medical Marijuana Act" to protect from arrest, prosecution and property forfeiture, seriously ill and terminally ill patients who use medical marijuana, as well as their caregivers who may cultivate marijuana for medical purposes; to establish a registry of qualifying patients, and primary caregivers, and agents of medical marijuana organizations who shall be issued registry identification cards, to establish the maximum amount of marijuana a qualifying patient may possess is eight (8) ounces; to establish reporting rules and penalties for abuse of the act; to provide that information regarding names of persons who have been issued or applied for a card is exempt from disclosure; by adding a new subsection 37-2732(c)(4) amending the law for possession of marijuana in the amount of three (3) ounces or less to be an infraction; by adding a new subsection 37-2734, amending the law for possession of marijuana related paraphernalia to be an infraction; and by the amending of title 22 by adding a new chapter 54 to create and maintain a licensing system and rules for an industrial hemp program.[3] | ” |
Full text
The full text of the measure could be found here.
Support
The campaign in support of the initiative was led by New Approach Idaho. Some of the group's members worked with Compassionate Idaho, which sponsored an initiative in 2014. However, the initiative failed to make the ballot.[1]
Arguments in favor
William Esbensen, president of New Approach Idaho, said:[4]
| “ | We want medical marijuana available to patients that need it with a dispensary program and a licensing program. We also want marijuana decriminalized, to where if you’re caught with three ounces or less it’s an infraction [instead of a misdemeanor or felony.] And there’s also an agricultural part so our farmers can grow hemp.[3] | ” |
Opposition
Ballotpedia has not yet found arguments against the measure. If you are aware of opposition, please email it to ballotmeasures@ballotpedia.org.
Path to the ballot
Supporters had to gather 47,623 valid signatures by April 30, 2016.[4]
The number of signatures required is equal to 6 percent of the registered voters as of the last general election in each of at least 18 legislative districts. Since there was a general election in November 2014, the signature requirements for initiatives in 2016 were determined by 2014 results.
The initiative was withdrawn on March 3, 2016, due to the fact that the petition inaccurately stated that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) "endorsed medical access to marijuana." The AAP asked New Approach Idaho to stop using their name on existing ballot initiative materials.[5][6]
See also
External links
Support
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Twin Falls Times-News, "Idaho Pot Advocates Push for Legalization by 2016," November 28, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Idaho Secretary of State, "2016 PROPOSED BALLOT INITIATIVES, Initiative 1" accessed November 23, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Boise State Public Radio, "Pot Supporters Try Again To Get Medical Marijuana On Idaho Ballot," April 1, 2015
- ↑ KIVI-TV, "Idaho marijuana initiative withdrawn," March 3, 2016
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "2016 Proposed Ballot Initiatives," accessed March 4, 2016
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State of Idaho Boise (capital) |
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