BOISE, Idaho — An organization is hoping the third time's the charm for putting a marijuana initiative on Idaho's ballot.
Kind Idaho is launching a petition to put a vote to decriminalize personal marijuana use on the 2026 ballot.
The advocacy group has tried twice in the past to get medical marijuana on the ballot. Kind Idaho Treasurer Joe Evans said this petition is different because it aims to decriminalize personal marijuana use and personal production – or growth – of marijuana.
"We are not creating a resale market. We're not making sale of any of this legal in the state," Evans said. "We just want to be able to say, 'hey, your medicine, your body, do it your way.' As long as you're taking care of yourself – and just yourself – there's no reason for the state to get involved with what you're doing."
Evans said they have seen pretty widespread support for personal use decriminalization.
Kind Idaho believes the new petition will resonate with voters more than past attempts because of its simplicity. Unlike previous petitions that have failed, the 2026 initiative does not require establishing a medical marijuana program and registry through the state.
"We'd like people to be able to go across the border, get their medicine, get their self care - and be able to come back without worrying about being arrested and without worrying about losing their vehicle to civil forfeiture," Evans said. "We want them to be able to make it home with their medicine, with their product, and be able to use it comfortably in their own spaces."
Evans said the proposed initiative could also make the roads between Oregon and Idaho less dangerous, since Idahoans who cross the border to buy marijuana could wait until they drive home to consume their cannabis.
"We make the roads safer through this process," Evans said. "We reduce the number of interactions with our police force, our police are no longer feeling responsible to take care of these minor issues with our residents."
Kind Idaho plans on debuting the petition at Boise Pride this weekend. After that, the group will submit the petition to the Idaho Secretary of State and begin collecting signatures to potentially qualify for the ballot.