Idaho: The Island of Prohibition

Idaho is an island of prohibition in a sea of Cannabis common sense. Historically on the wrong side of legalization, Idaho has had ZERO reform to its anti-marijuana laws in over 50 years.

Still stuck in the fear and propaganda from the 20th Century, Idaho’s current Cannabis policies are entirely based on outdated, racist, and harmful “Reefer Madness,” “War on Drugs,” “Just Say No,” and “D.A.R.E.” era perceptions.

Idaho is the ONLY state in the nation whose governor VETOED the “CBD for epileptic children” bill when it hit his desk. Instead, then-governor, Butch Otter, implemented an extremely limited CBD trial for only 25 Idaho children for GW Pharmaceuticals — whose prescription drug, Epidolex, is now the ONLY FDA-approved Cannabis-derived drug in the country.

Even after the passage of the 2018 Federal Farm Bill, which effectively legalized industrial hemp in the entire country for the first time in over 80 years, Idaho still arrested, jailed, and prosecuted legal HEMP truck drivers as they drove through the State. The new governor, Brad Little, had to shut it down through Executive Order. Idaho was finally FORCED to implement the language of the Farm Bill – becoming the 50th State to legalize Industrial Hemp.

IDAHO IS OFFICIALLY THE LAST STATE. Despite adopting the industrial hemp laws, Idaho still only allows for the transportation of Industrial Hemp hauled interstate. Local Hemp farmers, businesses, and even consumers still risk penalties for Cannabis that contains ANY LEVEL OF THC. (YES… even federally legal Industrial Hemp that contains <0.3% THC.)

And they aren’t joking! In Spring 2024, the Idaho State Police raided multiple VAPE/CBD Shops across the State, including in cities like Boise, Twin Falls & Idaho Falls. Thousands of dollars of federally legal products were confiscated, but no charges were filed, leaving little recourse for these small business owners. It has been reported recently that local police, in at least the capital city of Boise, have been recently threatening VAPE & Glass Shop owners to remove the majority of their products or risk felony charges, forcing some businesses to permanently close their doors and leave the State.

Idaho is completely surrounded by logic and reform: ¾ of Idaho’s borders have legalized adult recreational use of Cannabis in the last decade: Washington, Oregon, Nevada, & Montana. Our northern border neighbors in Canada have both medical and recreational laws for the whole country. To the East, Wyoming quickly implemented the “CBD bill for epileptic children” law, allowing for <0.3% federally legal industrial hemp products, and has not been arresting truck drivers for hauling hemp through the State. Even Idaho’s southern neighbor, Utah, legalized the compassionate use of Medical Marijuana for their sick and disabled citizens, with input from the LDS Church (for which they are so well known.)

Idaho politicians have made it very clear that they won’t be reforming Cannabis laws anytime soon. During the 2025 legislative sessions, politicians passed numerous anti-marijuana policies, including a new $300 mandatory minimum fine for simple marijuana possession. It is believed that this makes Idaho the ONLY State in the nation with a mandatory minimum fine for a misdemeanor marijuana charge. It may also be the ONLY misdemeanor in Idaho to carry a mandatory minimum penalty. Even battery of a pregnant woman (which did carry the same exact penalty in Idaho as marijuana possession) does not have a mandatory minimum fine. Governor Little signed this new law on February 26th, and it goes into effect July 1st, 2025.

The Idaho legislature also passed a policy banning & criminalizing advertisements of illegal drugs, attacked their more than 100-year-old constitution & citizen initiative process in an effort to prevent ballot initiatives (including raising criteria by district, and even an attempt to allow the governor to veto successful ballot initiatives passed by the voters). But most importantly, the Idaho Legislature is now seeking to amend the Idaho Constitution to block voters from ever bringing a Cannabis related petition to the ballot. 

Idaho House Joint Memorial 4 puts a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot for a vote in Idaho’s November 2026 election. If passed by the voters, this amendment would prohibit Idaho citizens from using the State’s initiative process to legalize drugs for any reason, including the compassionate use of medical marijuana. It would then require a ⅔ legislative majority to pass any type of legalization measure in the future. Permanently silencing not just the voices of today’s Idaho citizens – but also those of future generations.

Idaho’s harmful policies are a thorn in the side of the legal Cannabis Industry, nationwide. It was our lifelong politician, Senator Mike Crapo, who blocked the federal banking bill back in 2019, referring to his opposition to legalization in his home state as reasoning; and leaving dispensaries across the country to deal with the risks of a cash-only business.

Idaho’s outdated policies are so well-known that even iconic names like Cheech and Chong make fun of its place in Cannabis History, recently releasing an ad for their CBD Chews that proclaims, “Yes,we can ship to every state“, but “not you, Idaho.”

Idaho citizens know that they are the butt of all prohibition jokes, but they are NOT a joke! The State is filled with awesome people who really DO want Cannabis legalized. Despite the actions of Idaho’s government, most Idahoans are compassionate, loving people who actually do not want to keep persecuting their nonviolent neighbors for choosing a nontoxic drug. Including their sick and disabled neighbors who are simply seeking a better quality of life. But most especially, Idaho’s suffering children! Idaho politicians have repeatedly failed, ignored, and abandoned their most vulnerable citizens who could benefit greatly from this life-saving medicine.

It is very apparent that Idaho’s lawmakers simply do not speak for their constituents. In 2011, a prestigious poll conducted by Boise State University reported support for medical marijuana from 74% of Idaho respondents. A decade later, a similar poll by a local newspaper, the Idaho Statesman, showed similar results – 70% support for medical marijuana. For more than a decade, Idaho legislators have played blind to what their citizens truly want: compassion for their neighbors and medical freedom to choose a plant instead of toxic pharmaceuticals.

There are almost 150 legal recreational Cannabis dispensaries within a short drive from Idaho’s borders. The small border town of Ontario, Oregon, population 12,000, is home to more than a dozen dispensaries, and the city admits: 80% of the $14.8M in Cannabis taxes they’ve received in the last five years has been from Idahoans taking advantage of their proximity. Many Idahoans have become complacent in their prohibition, able to drive less than an hour in almost any direction for a taste of Cannabis freedom.

Many more DO NOT want to remain criminals simply for their choice of a safer drug than glorified alcohol and pharmaceuticals. They just don’t know what to do to change it! And a number of headstrong Idahoans have been working for decades to correct this injustice. There have been numerous attempts in the last 20 years to bring a medical marijuana petition to the ballot, and a group called Kind Idaho is currently circulating a decriminalization proposal for the 2026 ballot. Each attempt has pushed Idaho towards real Cannabis logic and freedom.

Now, Idaho’s dedicated Cannabis activists are trying a different approach by focusing on education rather than attempting to change the laws that prohibitionists seem dead-set on retaining, despite the public outcry for change and the thriving industry that surrounds them.

A community network called Legalize Idaho is preparing for the “Educate & Legalize Idaho Tour” — a year-long journey of Cannabis Education, Awareness & Discussion for Idahoans.

From May 1st, 2025 to May 1st, 2026, our advocates will attempt a monumental push for Cannabis reform in Idaho. Beginning and ending with Idaho’s largest Cannabis Education Event, Boise Hempfest, the tour will promote education, increase awareness, and create discussion about Cannabis, legalization, and prohibition in Idaho’s local communities.

This is an official call to action, an S.O.S. from a sinking ship, a cry for help from prisoners of the Drug War (stuck on the frontlines of a century battle), and or a call to arms from Idaho Cannabis Consumers facing a renewed declaration of war from their good ol’boy legislature.

The mission is to create a grassroots network to unite Idahoans and beyond in this extensive push for compassion, logic, and freedom within Idaho’s borders. We are asking for ALL EYES ON IDAHO as we continue to fight 100-year-old stigma and perceptions that are not aligned in any way with today’s societal view on the many valuable benefits of Cannabis and legalization.

Cannabis Prohibition is an insult to our ancestors and a plague on our future generations. It is time for Idaho to join our neighbors in the 21st Century of science, logic, compassion, and freedom. AND WE KNOW EDUCATION IS KEY!

WILL YOU HELP US EDUCATE & LEGALIZE IDAHO?

Get involved @ www.legalizeidaho.com