The nonprofit political committee Kind Idaho has submitted a new initiative with the state aimed at decriminalizing the personal use and home cultivation of marijuana.
(Photo credit: KindIdaho.org).
“We are pursuing personal use and home cultivation decriminalization,” says Kind Idaho. Although the group has spent the last several years working to legalize medical marijuana, the new measure would not require a medical condition in order to possess or grow marijuana.
“You should not need permission from the state for basic self-care. You shouldn’t get in trouble over a plant”, says Kind Idaho.
The measure focuses on exempting marijuana possession, production, and cultivation from state drug laws, as long as it’s for personal use, not consumed publicly, and not possessed by those under 21.
The petition is now under review by the secretary of state’s office, a process that will take at least six weeks. Joe Evans, the campaign’s treasurer, explained that following a 20-business-day legal review by the attorney general, there will be an opportunity to make modifications if necessary. The campaign hopes to start gathering signatures by November 1, aiming for the 2026 ballot.
To qualify, Kind Idaho needs roughly 70,000 valid voter signatures, including representation from at least 6% of registered voters in 18 of the state’s 35 legislative districts.
