Pubdate: Sun, 21 Feb 2016
Source: Idaho State Journal (ID)
Copyright: 2016 Idaho State Journal
Contact:  http://www.journalnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/936
Author: Michael H. O'Donnell

IDAHO MAINTAINS HARD LINE ON MARIJUANA LAWS

Sick or just looking for a good time, marijuana is not the answer in Idaho.

Utah is in the middle of a legislative debate on whether to legalize 
some forms of medical marijuana. Recreational pot use is legal in 
Oregon and Washington. Medical marijuana is legal in Montana and 
Nevada. Cannabidoil to treat seizures is legal in Wyoming and 
legislation to decriminalize pot possession is being considered in that state.

Here in Idaho, the resolve to keep marijuana illegal remains steadfast.

Under current Idaho law, an individual charged with possession of up 
to an ounce of marijuana faces a year in jail and/or up to a $1,000 
fine. More than three ounces is a felony punishable with up to five 
years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

Last year the Idaho Legislature approved a bill to decriminalize the 
use of cannabidoil, which contains very little THC - the 
hallucinogenic component in marijuana - for people who suffer from 
seizures when prescribed by a physician, but it was vetoed by Gov. 
C.L. "Butch" Otter.

Instead Gov. Otter issued an executive order allowing 25 children 
suffering from epilepsy to take part in a trial program of cannabis 
oil treatments.

Will the Gem State ever relax its laws regarding marijuana?

"We passed the oil bill overwhelmingly in the House and Senate last 
year," said Idaho Sen. Roy Lacey, D-Pocatello. "When we have children 
with epilepsy and something that could treat them there's no excuse 
not to pass it."

Lacey said there was some fear expressed by the Idaho State Police 
and Idaho's Director of the Idaho Office of Drug Policy Elisha 
Figueroa that the law would open the door to more lax laws on 
marijuana in Idaho.

The state senator said that was enough to convince Gov. Otter to veto the bill.

"We have to change leadership's thinking," Lacey said about any 
chances for Idaho to even consider medical marijuana in the future. 
"Idaho always lags behind."

In an official response to the marijuana legalization effort last 
year, the Idaho State Police released a lengthy response in opposition.

"The battle against the legalization of marijuana is being waged to 
protect future generations of Idahoans," the ISP document reads. "The 
interests of Idaho should be protected and maintained by those with a 
personal vested interest in securing a bright future for our 
children, free of the devastating effects of drug use."

Republican Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon, said he's conservative, but 
agrees with Lacey that some thinking about marijuana laws needs to 
change in Idaho.

Guthrie also voted for the bill to decriminalize cannabis oil use for 
children with epilepsy. He said public testimony convinced him of the 
merits of the treatment.

"I'm a conservative, but I think there has to be some compassion," 
Guthrie said. "I thought we'd turned the corner on that."

As far as efforts to move Idaho toward marijuana legalization, 
Guthrie said he's not convinced medical marijuana should be legal, 
especially if the drug is smoked.

"I think there's a lot better chance of reducing the penalties than 
legalization," Guthrie said.

The Idaho senator said cutting criminal penalties for simple 
marijuana possession could reduce costs in Idaho for housing 
prisoners and providing public defenders.

There are no bills currently being considered in the Idaho 
Legislature regarding medical marijuana use or decriminalization. 
However, the Utah Legislature will consider a bill that would allow 
thousands of Utah residents with documented health conditions to 
consume marijuana in edible forms and as an e-cigarette-style vapor 
but would ban smoking the drug in a cigarette form.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has issued an 
official stance against overall legalization of medical marijuana in 
Utah, but it doesn't object to the limited use of cannabidoil.

A vote is slated in the Utah Legislature Monday.

Guthrie said just the fact a conservative state like Utah is 
considering medical marijuana laws may indicate a shift in cultural 
thinking. Guthrie said the cost of Idaho's court and prison system, 
including probation and parole, may dictate the need for change.

"We're above the national average substantially," Guthrie said. 
"That's hard to ignore."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom