Medical cannabis initiative gathers 45,000 signatures
KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 days AGO
Kaye Thornbrugh is a second-generation Kootenai County resident who has been with the Coeur d’Alene Press for six years. She primarily covers Kootenai County’s government, as well as law enforcement, the legal system and North Idaho College. | February 3, 2026 1:00 AM
A coalition of Idahoans supporting the legalization of medical cannabis for people with debilitating medical conditions has gathered more than 45,000 signatures for a ballot initiative for the November 2026 election, according to a news release.
The Boise-based group, Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho, announced the milestone Friday. The group aims to qualify the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act for the general election ballot.
“This is not a pathway to recreational legalization,” said Amanda Watson, communications lead for the Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho. “This is designed specifically to give the people of Idaho dignity in their pain management process.”
The act seeks to allow the use of medical cannabis for qualifying patients with conditions including cancer, AIDS, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and post-traumatic stress disorder. Public use of medical cannabis would be prohibited, as would sharing the substance with others and driving while under the influence of medical cannabis.
If passed into law, the act would establish a regulated licensing system for Idaho-based producers and dispensaries and reclassify cannabis from a Schedule 1 drug to a Schedule 2 drug to allow for medical research.
To appear on the November 2026 ballot, the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act must secure signatures from at least 6% of registered voters statewide, based on the last general election. The deadline to collect the signatures is April 30.
Signatures must be collected in-person from at least 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts and represent at least 6% of each district’s voters.
Watson said the group aims to collect approximately 70,000 signatures and is on track to meet the deadline.
“We have strong support across the state,” she said. “We’re happy with the momentum we have.”
If the initiative reaches its goal, Idaho voters will see dueling cannabis questions on their ballot in November.
State lawmakers will place a proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution on the November 2026 ballot, which would eliminate voters’ ability to legalize cannabis through a ballot initiative. If approved by voters, the amendment would allow only the Idaho Legislature to have a say in legalizing “psychoactive substances.”
If both ballot questions pass, Watson said the amendment wouldn’t affect the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act.
“But it would be very difficult to run our initiative again if it doesn’t pass,” she said.
Watson said signature-gathering events are happening weekly across Idaho. Vapor Outlet at 188 E. Neider Ave. in Coeur d’Alene is a permanent signing location.
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Medical cannabis initiative gathers 45,000 signatures
A coalition of Idahoans supporting the legalization of medical cannabis for people with debilitating medical conditions has gathered more than 45,000 signatures for a ballot initiative for the November 2026 election, according to a news release.