Boyles’ bill passes on curtailing ads on illegal narcotics

BOISE – Rep. Judy Boyle (R-Midvale) is lauding the passage of a piece of legislation she sponsored designed to curtail advertising of illegal narcotics within the Gem State.

 House Bill 271 was passed by the Senate Wednesday, March 26, on a 24-10 vote and will go to the governor to sign into law. The bill previously passed the House by a 45-25 margin. 

 Those who violate the new law could be cited for a misdemeanor and face a $500 fine. 

 The passage of the bill was one of Boyle’s main goals for the 2025 legislative session and aimed to stop Oregon marijuana merchants from promoting their product in Idaho. In Oregon the sale of marijuana products is legal. Marijuana is illegal in Idaho. 

 Boyle said her effort to pass legislation to ban marijuana ads began several years ago.

 “This came from a guy who lives in Weiser. He called me two years ago and said, ‘Judy why are we allowing pot shops in Oregon to advertise to our kids in Idaho?’ I started to pay attention, and they were everywhere,” she said.

 Boyle said allowing such advertisements sends a confusing message.

 “We give our kids this double message. We tell them, don’t do drugs and then we are advertising drugs on billboards,” said Boyle.

 Boyle said she is “very happy” the legislation passed.

 “These drugs are illegal and we shouldn’t publicize them and confuse our kids,” said Boyle.

 Steven Meland, chief executive and owner of Hotbox Farms, an Ontario cannabis retailer, said the new law isn’t going to impact his business. He said his firm does currently advertise on a billboard in Idaho.

 “If anything, I save money. It (advertising) was a cost for us. Seems like we ruffled some feathers enough to get the legislature worried about it,” he said. 

 Meland said “folks in Idaho who want to use our services know we exist.”

 “It’s awfully interesting they (the Idaho Legislature) felt they are better suited to make decisions for Idahoans than Idahoans themselves,” he said. 

 Now, Meland said, residents from the Treasure Valley are “pouring over in droves” to his retail business. 

 “Every dispensary, every border dispensary to Idaho, see the vast majority of their customers are from Idaho,” he said. “The legislature should think about the current situation and try to embrace it.”