Marijuana advisory vote added to 2023 Sho-Ban Tribes Primary Election ballot
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — An advisory vote to assist the Fort Hall Business Council in guidance regarding medicinal or recreational use of marijuana will be on the 2023 Primary Election ballot in March.
Tribal attorney Monte Gray said the FHBC gave the directive to look into the legal ramifications of it. He said 37 states have legalized at least medical marijuana and 19 states have legalized both recreational and medicinal use of marijuana. A total of 13 states including Idaho don’t allow any form of it.
The following options will be allowed as an advisory vote according to resolution FHBC-2022-0944: (1) Should the Tribes keep marijuana illegal in all aspects (not even if prescribed by a doctor). (2) Should the Tribes pursue the legalization of medical marijuana (uses prescribed by a physician for the treatment of medical conditions.) (3) Should the Tribes pursue the use of recreational marijuana (uses not requiring a prescription by a medical care provider.)
The resolution reads the vote is not a referendum but only an advisory vote to assist the council in determining the preference of its membership for guidance in pursuing any future plans in this regard.
The resolution also reads marijuana has medical uses that may be of value to its members as well as financial benefit to the Tribes as a whole.
Gray said a Cannabis Sub Committee exists that includes the following members: Fort Hall Police Chief Pat Teton, Deneh Atcitty, Personnel Director; Brandelle Whitworth, Tribal Court Administrator; Sunny Stone, THHS Director; Travis Stone, Land Use Director; Donna Honena, Four Directions manager; Wendy Farmer, Revenue Director, along with Gray. Their reports are submitted to the Tribes Drug and Alcohol Committee.
