Constitutional Ban on Marijuana (Other Psychoactive Drugs) Passes Idaho Senate
By Greg Pruett • February 3, 2021SJR 101, a constitutional amendment proposal in the Senate made it through the Senate State Affairs Committee last week.
The proposal had a total of 23 Senators signed onto the measure. Sen. Scott Grow (R-Eagle) was the primary sponsor and he had 22 other Senators signed on as co-sponsors.
In order to pass SJR 101, two-thirds of the Senate would need to approve in order to send the measure to the Idaho House. According to the Attorney General’s office, this means that 24 Idaho Senators would need to vote in favor of SJR 101.
Going into today’s vote, that meant that SJR 101 was one Senator short of its list of sponsors/cosponsors.
After a lengthy floor debate, SJR 101 was passed through the Idaho Senate on a 24-11 vote and will now move to the Idaho House.
Sen. C. Scott Grow (R-Eagle) said the measure was necessary to protect Idaho’s families. Grow listed off a number of reasons he is bringing the proposal forward.
Grow listed as one of the reasons,
This amendment will allow Idahoans to choose for themselves whether they want to live in a drug-free state, free from drug culture, or not.
Grow continued with seven total reasons and said that burdens and risks to law enforcement. Grow addressed a number of questions in his opening statement, including saying that having the FDA listed in the amendment is not a concern.
Grow also said that CBD oil would not be illegal under SJR 101 citing several attorneys he had spoken to.
In closing, Grow said,
This is our opportunity to cast a vote to protect and preserve Idaho, to promote the health and safety of our children, families, and communities.
After Grow completed his opening statement and opened the debate, a number of Idaho Senators spoke in favor of and against SJR 101.
Sen. Michelle Stennett (D-Ketchum) said she opposed the measure. Stennett read a letter from a disabled veteran who has terminal cancer and that the veteran was severely damaged from the currently legal drugs he was taking. The letter states that the veteran’s doctors would give him medical cannabis but can’t because it is not legal in Idaho.
Sen. Ali Rabe (D-Boise) also spoke against the bill and said her constituents opposed the measure and felt it wasn’t right to put it in the constitution.
Sen. Lee Heider (R-Twin Falls) spoke in favor of SJR 101 and said he did not want to disappoint his local elected officials and law enforcement.
At least one Republican Senator, Christy Zito (Hammett), spoke against the measure. Zito said that the legislature can’t legislate temperance and morality but said she is personally against using recreational drugs.
Zito went on to say,
I just think that as we approach this, we need to be careful that we honor the choice of the individual, that we are careful not to combine policy with [the] constitution.
Of the other Senators who debated the measure, four Senators spoke in favor of it and one spoke against it. The other Senator that spoke against it was also a Republican, Sen. Steve Vick (R-Dalton Gardens).
SJR 101 will now go to the Idaho House. It is unclear at this time how many House members are in favor of the measure or opposed to it.
Two-thirds of the Idaho House must also agree to pass this as well which is 47 Idaho House members.
A hearing in the House State Affairs Committee has not yet been set.
Tags: Ali Rabe, C. Scott Grow, Federal Drug Agency, Lee Heider, SJR 101
15 thoughts on “Constitutional Ban on Marijuana (Other Psychoactive Drugs) Passes Idaho Senate”
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What about the benefits of CBD??
Yawn..20th Century RHINO’s more concerned with ‘moral’ Grand Standing than Liberty–what’s next a Social Credit Score? These Progressive GOP/DNC Globalist’s need to go, If we don’t clean house quick in this State the CCP’s foothold will be beyond repair, wake up Idaho!
Grow, ya gotta go. Not that you will read this from your ivory tower. Shame on you even considering altering the constitution. Leave it alone! Regardless of subject matter. The founding document of our state needs to be left out of this. If people want to smoke or consume pot, who cares? I bet you would fail a piss test right now. Just saying.
Seriously. Pot is still federally illegal. But you’re convinced prohibiting in your Constitution will cause people to give it up. Didn’t we try this with the 18 Amendment? If people want to smoke pot, they’re going to smoke pot.
This is the dumb crap these so called conservative’s come up with?
the “first concern of all good government is the virtue and sobriety of the people”
This is nothing more than the Republican party trying to pass laws so big pharma can sell more poison that kills people.
Yeah, make sure and ban all the natural remedies, can’t have that.
Unbelievable.
An AMENDMENT to the CONSTITUTION, not a statute, not just a law, but an AMENDMENT? An Amendment which is “necessary to protect Idaho’s families?” Utter rubbish. This comes from a Senate which is loathe to curtail Brad Little’s unlawful overreaches. This comes from a Senate which failed to vote to protect “Idaho’s families” and citizens during these last MONTHS since their disgraceful abandonment of us at the Special Session. This comes from a Senate who is right now, right in front of our very noses, refusing to restore and perform their Constitutional Responsibilities as legislators. Refusing once again to START supporting Idaho citizens and STOP supporting your Crony Little. You should be ashamed. Please vote against this AMENDMENT decisively in the House of Representatives. NO, NO, NO.
What a joke. If you really cared why not put alcohol on the same line! But you do not care about “We the People” and that is very clear by just looking at your record on following the Constitution of Idaho! Much less the Constitution of the United States!!
Globalist gotta go! Let Freedom ring.
It is not “conservative” to amend the Constitution for partisan follies. Politicians never learn, what’s next, alcohol prohibition? How about a continuing education requirement on the State and US Constitution law and origins for all Idaho government “servants”?
Wow, of all the challenges Idaho families face, this is what you think should occupy your time. Something that grows in the wild
Sounds more like a bow to Big Pharma.
RINOs got to go!