We strongly oppose Marijuana legalization in any form in the State of Idaho. Our track record over the years has made that very clear. It is one of the reasons that we regularly ask candidates about their stance on this issue.
Why Idaho Must Reject Marijuana Legalization
If you want to see the difference Marijuana makes, simply look at the cities of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. The drug use, the homelessness in Spokane is a direct result of legalizing Marijuana. Because Idaho has not legalized Marijuana, Coeur d’Alene is a jewel of a city, with low crime, low homelessness and low drug use.
The True Danger of House Joint Resolution 4
House Joint Resolution 4 would write into the state constitution that only the legislature can legalize drugs in the state of Idaho.
1. Stripping Power from the Citizenry
This is a significant issue because it sets a precedent that the Legislature can take away from the citizens of Idaho the right to enact laws via Ballot Measure. Ultimately, the power that the government of the State of Idaho has comes from the citizens of the State of Idaho. While Idaho is a representative government, the importance of citizen lead Ballot Measures cannot be understated.
2. The Vulnerability of Politicians to Lobbying
The second concern that we have is that Politicians are much easier to manipulate than most people realize. PACs, Corporations and Citizen groups have all been able to convince Politicians to abandon the principles that they ran on.
Furthermore, a significant number of Legislators, while conservative, have libertarian leanings believing that the government has no right to tell anyone what to do.
Rendering the Citizens Powerless
If special interests successfully lobby a future legislature into legalizing marijuana, the citizens would be unable to use a Ballot Measure to re-criminalize Marijuana. They would be powerless on this issue.
Idahoans Oppose Marijuana
It is important to note that the most recent highly funded attempt to get a Measure on the Ballot legalizing Marijuana failed. It failed because Idahoans are opposed to Marijuana legalization having seen the failures of legalization in other states.
Protecting Idaho's Principles
A political principle is not truly a principle until it costs you something. Preventing marijuana legalization in Idaho remains a top priority, but dismantling the constitutional rights of voters is a bridge Idahoans should not cross. Lawmakers must find ways to protect the state from drug commercialization without sacrificing the fundamental liberty of the ballot box.
