Idaho advocates have submitted a petition to legalize medical marijuana in the state they plan to qualify for the 2022 ballot. The campaign attempted to get a virtually identical reform measure before voters this election, but they ultimately ditched the effort due to signature gathering complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s refusal to provide petitioning accommodations. The text of the initiative is the same as the 2020 version but for the date of the relevant election. The measure has been sent to the secretary of state’s office for approval to begin signature gathering. If it is accepted by the end of the week, as advocates hope, they will be required to gather valid signatures equaling at least six percent of the number of votes cast in 2018 in order to qualify, just as they would have this year. If they have to wait until after next week’s election, that signature requirement would likely be significantly larger because they would have to match six percent of the 2020 vote, a presidential election where turnout is already proving to be immense nationwide.
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 10/27/2020 17:24:56