Medical Marijuana: Bill Coming Down the Pike in Idaho?

Idaho is a rocked-rib Republican state, and the state’s Republican Party is no friend of medical marijuana, but that isn’t stopping one GOP legislator from going ahead with plans to introduce a medical marijuana bill in the next legislative session. Rep. Tom Trail (R-Moscow) told the local Fort Mill Times over the weekend that he is drafting a bill now.

from Drug War Chronicle, Issue #554, 10/3/08

Although Idaho is a conservative state, it is bordered by four medical marijuana states — Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Montana — as well as less medical marijuana-friendly Utah and Wyoming. And voters in at least one Idaho town, Hailey, last year approved a municipal medical marijuana referendum. After town officials balked at enforcing them, voters passed it again in May.

Rep. Trail said the bill he is drafting will be based on existing laws in Oregon and Washington. He also said he has been in contact with some Idaho doctors who support allowing the use of medical marijuana.

Still, it will be an uphill fight for the Panhandle Republican. In June, the GOP state convention committee voted 21-9 to oppose any relaxation of Idaho’s marijuana laws, including medical marijuana. And there’s still no medical marijuana in Hailey — officials there filed a lawsuit after the May vote seeking guidance on how to deal with unruly voters who don’t want authorities brutalizing medical marijuana users.