Constitutional Ban on Marijuana and Other Psychoactive Drugs Passes Senate Committee
By Greg Pruett • January 29, 2021On Monday, the Senate State Affairs Committee held a public hearing on SJR 101, a ban on marijuana and other psychoactive drugs.
The bill heard public testimony for and against the proposal with more individuals/groups testifying in favor of SJR 101. Time eventually ran out prior to a vote taking place and a vote was delayed until today.
This morning, Senator C. Scott Grow (R-Eagle) gave his closing testimony in favor of the SJR 101 and the Senate State Affairs Committee debated the issue a little more before voting on it.
After debate, the committee voted in favor of SJR 101 on a voice vote.
Senator Grant Burgoyne (D-Boise) made a motion to “hold” the bill in committee and said during his debate that he does not agree that Idaho’s drug laws are what attract people to the state. He said that the drug problem here is just as bad as many other states. Burgoyne says our current drug policies are not working and something must be done.
Burgoyne’s motion ultimately failed and a substitute motion by Senator Abby Lee (R-Fruitland) to send SJR 101 to the full Senate was made. Lee said she wanted the people of Idaho to have the final say on the issue.
SJR 101 now heads to the full Idaho Senate. Because SJR 101 would be a proposed constitutional amendment next year on the ballot, it must have 2/3rds of the Idaho Senate and 2/3rds of the Idaho House.
The governor will have no veto power over SJR 101 because proposed constitutional amendments are ultimately approved or rejected by voters.
A date for the full Idaho Senate to take up SJR 101 has not yet been determined but there are enough co-sponsors on the measure as it currently stands to pass it when a vote does take place.
Tags: Abby Lee, C. Scott Grow, Grant Burgoyne, Idaho Senate, Marijuana, Psychoactive Drugs, SJR 101
6 thoughts on “Constitutional Ban on Marijuana and Other Psychoactive Drugs Passes Senate Committee”
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It will be interesting to see if the house falls in line with this travesty. This simply reaffirms the simple fact that the senate is populated with interesting creatures at least a century out of date with any form of reality.
Burgoyne is wrong. I have worked in the Criminal Justice systems in Idaho and California, and during all of that time, have had access to numerous court and legal LE documents and I can tell you that when it comes to this issue, Idaho doesn’t even come close. I don’t know where he is getting his information.
https://www.detox.net/uncover/drug-offenses-and-sentencing-by-state/
You are incorrect
This will actually require two constitutional amendments; one to implement it and another to repeal it. That’s how it went down with Prohibition and we have learned nothing from that. It is NEVER the substance or the object it is always the people misusing it.
Apparently there is an opioid problem in Idaho…our elected officials are seemingly unaware of this fact because they would rather have you manage your pain with a potentially addictive and fatal narcotic rather than a natural, non-addictive, never fatal pain management alternative…fact: you cannot overdose on marijuana!…this is what happens when you allow narrow minded religious zealots into office…marijuana use should be left up to the individual and not legislated by a bunch of know nothing law makers…they would rather turn millions of Idahoans into criminals than to legalize a proven safe and effective alternative to dangerous narcotics!…shameful!!!
Yes, Senators, let us be more concerned about marijuana than whether Brad Little has the power to ban hydroxychloroquine in Idaho. Yes, Senators, let’s ignore the real problems and the real issues, the ones that really matter. Life and death. Let’s continue to cry out loudly for Federal Funding at the expense of Constitutional Rights and Legislative (Senate) Responsibilities. You might as well go home now. You are no longer representing the people of Idaho. We have no more need of you in this system. No Judiciary. After all, we have a GOVERNOR to tell us what to do.