As Missouri and Maryland become the two most recent states in the U.S. to legalize adult-use cannabis, it looks like Idahoans might be ready to take the plunge with medicinal cannabis. According to a new poll commissioned by the Idaho Statesman, more than two-thirds of adults in the state support the legalization of medical cannabis.
The poll was conducted by independent research company SurveyUSA and asked 550 Idaho adults three total questions:
“Should the use of marijuana for medical purposes be legal in Idaho? Or against the law?”
“Should the use of marijuana for recreational purposes be legal in Idaho? Or against the law?”
“Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be penalized with jail? A fine? Or no penalty at all?”
For the first question at least, the support was clear, with 68% of respondents showing their support for legal medical cannabis in the state. Response rate didn’t vary substantially by gender, though younger age groups showed greater favorability for cannabis reform and cannabis as a whole, according to the results. Democrats were also more likely to be in favor of less severe penalties, along with recreational and medical cannabis, than their Republican counterparts.
The rest of the results are a bit more split: Regarding legal, recreational cannabis in Idaho, 48% of those surveyed said they were in favor, while 41% said it should be against the law and 10% said they were unsure.
Those in the 35-49 age group were most likely to support adult-use cannabis in the state, with 58% approval, followed by the 18-34 range at 53% approval, then the 50-64 and 65+ groups, respectively at 47% and 32% approval. The 65+ group said that recreational cannabis should remain illegal at the highest rate, 59%.
Most Idaho adults said that small amounts of cannabis should be punished with a fine, at 43%, closely followed by no penalty at all, at 42%. Just 11% said that small amounts of cannabis should result in jail time, and 4% of respondents said they were unsure. Older age groups were more likely to vote in favor of jail time and fines, while younger groups showed the most support for no penalty.
Idaho still considers possession of three ounces or less of cannabis a misdemeanor charge, punishable by up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000; use of possession of cannabis paraphernalia has the same classification and penalties. Growing any amount of cannabis is considered a felony.
It’s a bit confounding to see where Idaho lies, especially when looking at a map: Immediate neighbors to the west Oregon and Washington have both enjoyed legal medical and recreational markets for years, along with Nevada and California to the south. Utah has a medical market, and Montana to the northeast has also legalized both medical and recreational cannabis. Idaho’s only neighbor in the same boat is Wyoming.
So if the people are behind it, what’s the delay?
House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel said that the results are exactly what she would expect—in fact, she said she wouldn’t have been surprised if the medical cannabis approval rate was higher. Ultimately, Rubel said that Idaho is so behind with cannabis reform because of the lawmakers.
Every state, except Idaho, Wyoming and Utah, has legalized cannabis recreationally and medicinally, and has decriminalized it. Utah has a medicinal market, and CBD oil under 0.3% THC is legal in Wyoming. Idaho has neither medical or recreational cannabis and has yet to decriminalize it.
“The Idaho Republican Party and the political elite within it have taken on a life of their own, that does not track the desires of the people of Idaho,” Rubel told the Idaho Statesman.
The state’s rigid stance on cannabis seems to be so pervasive, it’s affecting cannabis accessibility, beyond the human species.
Idaho banned the sale of CBD pet supplements earlier this year, prompting backlash from groups like the National Animal Supplement Council. Advocates argue the move will actually put animals in even more danger, with pet owners potentially seeking out other means of obtaining unregulated product, as legal CBD products need certificates of analysis and vetting under a regulatory program.
