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Sun Valley Today
By the People, for the People
Idaho Medical Marijuana Advocates Collect Over 100,000 Signatures
Supporters aim to qualify medical cannabis ballot initiative for November election despite opposition from Republican-led legislature
Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:35pm
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The medical cannabis ballot initiative in Idaho has gained significant grassroots support, with advocates collecting over 100,000 signatures in a final push to get the measure on the November ballot.Sun Valley TodaySupporters of a proposed medical cannabis ballot initiative in Idaho say they have gathered more than 100,000 signatures and are making a final push to qualify the measure for the November general election ballot by the April 30 deadline. The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho is behind the effort to legalize medical cannabis as a treatment option for Idahoans with debilitating conditions.
Why it matters
Idaho is one of the few remaining states that has not legalized any form of cannabis, medical or recreational, despite its neighbors having done so. This ballot initiative represents a grassroots effort to give Idahoans access to medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids and other pain medications.
The details
The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho needs to collect 70,725 valid signatures statewide, as well as signatures from 6% of registered voters in at least 18 of Idaho's 35 legislative districts, to qualify the initiative. The group is using paid signature-gatherers and says they have already collected over 100,000 raw signatures. However, the Republican-controlled Idaho Legislature is pushing a competing measure that would make it harder to legalize marijuana in the future and is urging voters to reject the medical cannabis initiative.
- The deadline to submit signatures to the state for verification is April 30, 2026.
- The proposed medical cannabis initiative would appear on the November 2026 general election ballot if it qualifies.
The players
Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho
A group leading the effort to legalize medical cannabis in Idaho through a ballot initiative.
Rob Cronin
A Sun Valley businessman who serves as the chairperson and treasurer for the Natural Medicine Alliance PAC. Cronin is a cancer survivor who supports medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids.
Amanda Watson
A Boise-based spokeswoman for the Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho initiative.
Dr. Dori Tunney
A physician and philanthropist who advocated for legalizing medical cannabis in Idaho until her death in 2024. Tunney's experience using medical cannabis to treat her own cancer-related pain inspired the initiative.
Idaho Legislature
The Republican-controlled state legislature that is opposing the medical cannabis ballot initiative and pushing a competing measure that would make it harder to legalize marijuana in the future.
What they’re saying
“We've had hundreds of people email us about how they're suffering with PTSD or they're suffering with epilepsy and they're driving across the border and illegally buying gummies because they would like some dignity in their care, in their state, but they can't get it, and they're still accessing these things because they're right there and available.”
— Amanda Watson, Spokeswoman, Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho
“The pain was just outrageous and I was hammering Vicodin like it was going out of style. I can tell you firsthand that I would have chosen a cannabis alternative to opioids all day long, because the opioid puts you on that funky roller coaster of, 'Oh, I feel better. Oh, I'm depressed, and my life sucks. Oww, now I'm in pain. another opioid. Oh, I'm depressed again and my life sucks.' It really messes with your head.”
— Rob Cronin, Chairperson and Treasurer, Natural Medicine Alliance PAC
What’s next
The Idaho Secretary of State's Office will verify the signatures submitted by the Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho. If the initiative qualifies for the November ballot, it would then need a simple majority of votes to be approved by Idaho voters.
The takeaway
This ballot initiative represents a grassroots effort by medical cannabis advocates in Idaho to give patients access to an alternative treatment option, despite opposition from the state's Republican-led legislature. The outcome could have significant implications for the future of marijuana policy in one of the few remaining states without any legal cannabis.
