Idaho: Your cannabis freedoms are at stake on this year’s ballot!

This year’s election will decide whether Idahoans keep the right to make their own decisions on cannabis. HJR 4, a constitutional amendment on the November ballot, would take that power away from voters by banning citizen initiatives on cannabis.

In 2025, Idaho lawmakers voted to put HJR 4 on the 2026 ballot. It passed the House 58-10 and the Senate 29-6.

It is crucial that Idahoans know how detrimental this initiative passing would be to any chance of cannabis reform in the future for Idaho. It is unfair that lawmakers believe they know what’s best for cannabis policy in the state, especially while patients and veterans have pleaded with lawmakers for a medical program for years, only to have lawmakers decide to hold out on progress. 

HJR 4 would keep the power of legalization to the legislature only, meaning no future citizen-led initiative could have cannabis on the ballot. 

Additionally, Idaho will have a gubernatorial race between prohibitionist incumbent Governor Brad Little (R), who has been staunchly opposed to cannabis reform and has even made cannabis laws worse in recent years, and legalization supporter Terri Pickens (D), who stated on her social media page her support for legalizing and regulating cannabis. She is also encouraging voters to vote no on HJR 4.

All of Idaho’s state constitutional officers and legislative seats are up for election or re-election, along with two U.S. House seats and one Senate seat.

Early voting is already beginning, and cannabis’s future in Idaho is at stake. It is incredibly important to be an informed voter. You can find your polling location by looking up your address here, view your sample ballot, and confirm your status as a voter. Friday, October 23rd, is the last day to register to vote in the 2026 general election. 

With Idaho having one of the highest arrest rates for cannabis in the nation (254 arrests per 100,000 residents), Idahoans can not afford to give up their rights to have a say in cannabis laws.