Idaho Man Works to Legalize Pot

10-19-07 | Kiersten Throndsen

It's surrounded by a cloud of controversy, legalizing pot smoking. But now a Garden City man says at least Hailey could be closer to making that happen.

"I think that the people in the city are very interested in the issue and everything I have seen so far points to victory in November," Ryan Davidson told CBS 2 Eyewitness News.

Davidson says three years worth of work has finally paid off, voters in Hailey will decide on legalizing marijuana use.

"This will certainly be, I believe the first time in the history of Idaho that any initiative dealing with marijuana policy will be brought to the voters," said Davidson.

On the city's November ballot will be four marijuana themed initiatives, all brought forward by Davidson.

The first would develop a plan to tax and regulate personal use of marijuana. The second would legalize medical marijuana use in Hailey. The third, make marijuana use by adults the lowest police priority there and the fourth would support industrial hemp use.

"I think it is time for the people to re-examine government's policies relating to marijuana," he told CBS 2 Eyewitness News.

Davidson says he picked Hailey because he considers it one of Idaho's more liberal communities and he believes in limited government. But, Hailey City Council President Rick Davis says quote:

"The only way this is going to go away is to let the people vote on it."

Davidson says marijuana use wouldn't become legal in Hailey instantly if his initiatives pass.

"It basically sets up a committee and the committee is going to have to decide how we're going to implement it and what not, they have a year to do it," he explained.

But he hopes it will light a fire for future policy changes when it comes to this drug.

Each initiative needs 50 percent of votes to pass. Davidson believes he has the support needed in Hailey, but he thinks statewide support on this issue is still a few years away.

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