A proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting the legalization of marijuana or other psychoactive drugs narrowly passed the Idaho Senate on a 24-11 vote Wednesday.
A two-thirds vote was needed to advance the measure, and that’s exactly what it got. It now heads to the House for further action.
Lawmakers debated the proposal for more than an hour. Some offered heartfelt pleas to reject the permissive drug culture seen in other states, while others said the amendment closes the door to medical treatments that could help Idaho citizens.
Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, likened the Senate to the soldiers who held the tail end of the Union lines at the Battle of Gettysburg. They couldn’t retreat, so after running out of ammunition, they fixed bayonets and charged the enemy.
“Idaho is the last state (in the region) that hasn’t legalized these psychoactive drugs,” he said. “We’re the end of the line. We need to hold fast. To fix bayonets, for us, is to put our votes out there, to move this amendment forward to the (House), so Idahoans can choose whether to maintain the state the way it’s been, or to succumb to the pressures from outside groups who know they can make tens of millions of dollars from Idaho citizens if we allow these drugs to be legalized. I’d encourage you to vote for this, for the sake of your kids and grandkids.” [Read more at The Lewiston Tribune]
The post Idaho Senate narrowly OKs anti-marijuana amendment appeared first on Cannabis Business Executive – Cannabis and Marijuana industry news.
