On Oct. 8, Idaho News 6 reported Idaho's Nov. 3 ballot includes HJR 4, which would give only the Legislature power to legalize marijuana and other drugs

On Oct. 8, 2026, Idaho News 6 (KIVI) reported that Idaho voters will decide in the Nov. 3 general election whether to amend the state constitution to give the Idaho Legislature exclusive authority over legalizing marijuana, narcotics and other psychoactive substances, removing citizens' ability to put such measures on the ballot through the initiative process. The proposed amendment is House Joint Resolution 4 (HJR 4).

According to the Idaho Secretary of State's VoteIdaho.gov ballot page, a "yes" vote supports a constitutional amendment providing that only the Idaho State Legislature shall have the authority to legalize marijuana, narcotics, or other psychoactive substances, and removing the ability of citizens to initiate state statutes that would legalize these substances. A "no" vote retains citizens' ability to initiate state statutes that would legalize or decriminalize them. The amendment itself does not legalize or ban any substance. The Legislature approved HJR 4 during its 2025 session: the House adopted it 58-10 on March 5, 2025, and the Senate adopted it 29-6 on March 11, 2025, according to the Idaho Legislature's bill history.

Supporters and opponents both spoke to Idaho News 6. Rep. Clint Hostetler, one of 32 House co-sponsors, called HJR 4 "a tool to protect the state from citizens initiative that would legalize marijuana or any schedule one drug," and said, "They get to make the ultimate decision if they trust the legislature." Alexandra Caval, president of Southern Idaho Republican Women, who debated against a resolution supporting HJR 4 at the Idaho Federation of Republican Women's fall convention, said, "We just really don't need to give up constitutional rights in order to protect ourselves from marijuana and its effects."

Related context: on July 14, 2026, the Idaho Secretary of State's Office said a separate initiative, the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act, "did not qualify for the November ballot after failing to submit the required number of valid petition signatures, both in total number of signatures and required legislative districts," Marijuana Moment reported. To qualify, the campaign needed valid signatures from 6% of registered voters, or 70,725, including 6% in at least 18 of the state's 35 legislative districts, according to Marijuana Moment. VoteIdaho.gov lists both the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act and the Decriminalize Cannabis Now Initiative as not qualifying for the 2026 ballot.

Current status: as of Oct. 18, 2026, HJR 4 is on Idaho's Nov. 3, 2026, general election ballot, and no marijuana legalization initiative is on that ballot. News searches on Oct. 18 found no legal challenge to the measure's ballot placement.

This report summarizes published reporting and official records and is not legal advice.