Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
In the Northwest corner of the United States, marijuana is either legal (Oregon, Washington) or at least accepted for medical purposes (Montana). Since politicians in Idaho seem reluctant to "follow the wave," a grassroots group called New Approach Idaho (NIA) is proposing to allow medical marijuana through the ballot.
"Patients need safe access to this form of medication," said Bill Esbensen, spokesman for NAI in an interview with Watchdog. The ballot measure would also include decriminalize pot possession under three ounces.
"It would be an infraction like a parking ticket. You wouldn't get a criminal file like right now."
But what about government claims that marijuana has absolutely no medical use?
"There is a huge lie regarding pot. Countries likes Spain, Germany and Israel have done their research on cannabis [from which marijuana is derived] and they use it as medicine," said Esbensen. "Even in the U.S. there are still four patients that have been on the federal medical marijuana program for the past 25 years."
According to the group's website, getting the people to support the measure shouldn't be too hard. NAI quotes a study from Boise State University that shows a 74-percent popular support towards medical marijuana.
"Legislators have changed in the past two years," said Esbensen, talking about a 2013 senate bill opposing any legalization of marijuana. "They have done their research and even voted for a bill that would have allowed cannabis oil before it was vetoed by Governor [Butch] Otter earlier this year."
However, being able to have the measure qualify for ballot won't be easy. "We need to have 6 percent of the registered voters (who voted in the last election) from at least 18 of the 44 legislative districts in Idaho by April 30. That makes a total of 47,632 valid signatures," mentioned Esbensen. So far, he said that the petition has 16,000 signatures, about 8,000-9,000 of which would be considered valid according to Idaho law.
Finally, Esbensen encourages opponents to legalization to do their own research on the matter. "There has been a war on pot for over 80 years, but for what? In 1974, Nixon had a commission produce a report he hoped would demonize marijuana for good. However, top scientists and doctors claimed that it was shrinking tumors. It might have saved my late mother, who died from brain cancer."
Republican state Sen. Chuck Winder, who sponsored the 2013 senate bill, could not be reached for comment in time for this article's publication, but he is quoted denouncing the "social, economic and legal chaos" created by legalization and that it created "cultural acceptance of drug use that reduces the perception of harm among children and increases drug use."
The group has until April 30 to turn in enough validated signatures to put the issue on the November ballot.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Grassroots Group Pushing For Medical Marijuana On Idaho Ballot
Author: PG Veer
Photo Credit: Adam Eschbach
Website: WatchDog
"Patients need safe access to this form of medication," said Bill Esbensen, spokesman for NAI in an interview with Watchdog. The ballot measure would also include decriminalize pot possession under three ounces.
"It would be an infraction like a parking ticket. You wouldn't get a criminal file like right now."
But what about government claims that marijuana has absolutely no medical use?
"There is a huge lie regarding pot. Countries likes Spain, Germany and Israel have done their research on cannabis [from which marijuana is derived] and they use it as medicine," said Esbensen. "Even in the U.S. there are still four patients that have been on the federal medical marijuana program for the past 25 years."
According to the group's website, getting the people to support the measure shouldn't be too hard. NAI quotes a study from Boise State University that shows a 74-percent popular support towards medical marijuana.
"Legislators have changed in the past two years," said Esbensen, talking about a 2013 senate bill opposing any legalization of marijuana. "They have done their research and even voted for a bill that would have allowed cannabis oil before it was vetoed by Governor [Butch] Otter earlier this year."
However, being able to have the measure qualify for ballot won't be easy. "We need to have 6 percent of the registered voters (who voted in the last election) from at least 18 of the 44 legislative districts in Idaho by April 30. That makes a total of 47,632 valid signatures," mentioned Esbensen. So far, he said that the petition has 16,000 signatures, about 8,000-9,000 of which would be considered valid according to Idaho law.
Finally, Esbensen encourages opponents to legalization to do their own research on the matter. "There has been a war on pot for over 80 years, but for what? In 1974, Nixon had a commission produce a report he hoped would demonize marijuana for good. However, top scientists and doctors claimed that it was shrinking tumors. It might have saved my late mother, who died from brain cancer."
Republican state Sen. Chuck Winder, who sponsored the 2013 senate bill, could not be reached for comment in time for this article's publication, but he is quoted denouncing the "social, economic and legal chaos" created by legalization and that it created "cultural acceptance of drug use that reduces the perception of harm among children and increases drug use."
The group has until April 30 to turn in enough validated signatures to put the issue on the November ballot.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Grassroots Group Pushing For Medical Marijuana On Idaho Ballot
Author: PG Veer
Photo Credit: Adam Eschbach
Website: WatchDog
