"Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful." --Margaret J. Wheatley
PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE IDAHO CONSTITUTION
SJR 101 is a proposed Constitutional amendment that would forbid the state from legalizing any psychoactive drugs that weren't already legal in 2020, including future medical breakthroughs, Also, if passed, it would effectively operate as a permanent ban on medical cannabis and, under current code, even most CBD oil, because a product containing any quantity of THC is considered a Schedule 1 drug in Idaho. These products are commonly utilized to help pain management for cancer patients and individuals with chronic diseases and seizures.
Dr. Dan Zuckerman, a veteran cancer oncologist at St. Luke's Medical Center in Boise, confirmed that passage of this Constitutional amendment would reduce health care opportunities for Idahoans who are enduring severe, intense pain. Hemp and CBD oil are legal federally in all states except Idaho and this bill would jeopardize our ability to consider legalizing them in the future. So, SJR 101 could put the state at an economic and medical disadvantage. It would diminish Idahoans' health care options.
The proposed amendment passed the Senate State Affairs committee. If it passes the House and Senate by two-thirds vote, voters will see it on the ballot for the next general election.
BSU ANNUAL SURVEY
The School of Public Service at Boise State University continues a polling tradition in Idaho with the Idaho Public Policy Survey. The annual survey asks a statistically significant sample of Idaho adults about public policy issues of interest to researchers, the media and the public.
The survey provides a wealth of Idaho-specific information. Notable results in this year's survey include:
49% of Idahoans believe the state is headed in the right direction, down from 56% last year.
76% believe Idaho's elections are secure.
Education is again at the top of the list of issues Idahoans want the Legislature to address, then jobs and the economy, and then healthcare.
55% of Idahoans would get a covid-19 vaccine today if it were available to them.
There is majority support for a statewide mask mandate.
FUNDING LITIGATION
An appropriation to fund the Legislative Legal Defense Fund for $4 million this year passed the Senate and is headed to the House. The Fund has spent nearly $8.5 million in the last 5 years mostly for outside legal counsel and litigation instead of using the Attorney General's Office at a much more affordable rate. The Speaker of the House and the ProTem of the Senate have complete discretion with these funds, without oversight or scrutiny-as they recently did to sue the Secretary of the Treasury over office space and recently to defend against an ADA lawsuit brought by Representatives Muffy Davis and Sue Chew seeking accommodations in light of the pandemic.
With the legislature's current focus on oversight and limiting authority, we might be wise to turn our eyes on ourselves and consider how accountable we are in spending taxpayer dollars.
COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATE
As we go forward into the next week's opening phase of vaccinations for 65 and older, there are not enough doses of vaccine for this to go quickly. The Governor says it will take over two months to vaccinate this group. This link has information and locations for vaccinations.
