Jan 20, 2011
On Wednesday, January 19, Idaho State Representative Tom Trail introduced legislation that would protect seriously ill residents in his state from arrest and prosecution for using marijuana with their doctors’ recommendations. Rep. Trail, a Republican from Moscow, Idaho, recognized the compassionate need for a distinction between medical and non-medical use of marijuana and acted on it.
If passed, Idaho would become the 16th state, along with the District of Columbia, to distinguish between medical and non-medical marijuana use. Idaho is surrounded by medical marijuana states, sharing borders with Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Montana. Additionally, Idaho borders Canada, a medical marijuana country.
Although the bill is solid, Rep. Trail has his work cut out for him. In a state as “red” as they get, dispelling myths and making sure the truth is heard can be difficult. However, the soft-spoken conservative from Moscow, Idaho seems to be an ideal champion for this issue.
If you live in Idaho and would like to be updated on Rep. Trail’s efforts, or for updates on marijuana legislation in any state, please sign up for MPP’s state specific e-mail alerts at www.mpp.org/subscribe.