highly likely
By PACER STACKTRAIN
Column # 34
Highlighting amazing Cannabis pioneers who helped pave the way to greater herbal acceptance.
RICK STEVES If you’re a Cannabis enthusiast who’d like to travel the world and would like some insight– Rick Steves is your man. Fans of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) will already recognize Steves. If you’re not one of them, well, he’s kind of like the Bob Ross of travel shows – knowledgeable, friendly, and politely square. He’s been hosting his program, Rick Steves’ Europe on public television since 1991 and he also hosts a one-hour weekly radio show. If you’ve never watched or heard his show before, well, let’s just say that Steves mild-mannered nature and narration is akin to something like a real-life Ned Flanders. So, you can imagine most people’s collective surprise when we they learned that this Ned Flanders smokes Cannabis. The fact of the matter is that this Seattle native is one of the best allies in the world for Cannabis mainstreaming and legalization. Adding extra credibility to his stance, he’s been a Cannabis advocate long before any American states legalized it, and long before the majority public perception shifted toward a majority in favor of decriminalization. Which, in this writer’s opinion makes Rick Steves a true OG. Because, in the 90s he “I think it’s good citizenship to reconsider a law that might be causing more harm than came out in favor of smoking herb and its many benefits good. Today’s marijuana laws — like the laws against alcohol during Prohibition — are were often career suicide, causing people to lose their causing more harm to our society than the drug they are designed to protect us from,” jobs. Thankfully, Steves owns his production house (in Seattle) and thus, did not have to risk losing his job over his views. “Marijuana is not legal anywhere because the “I’m motivated by civil liberties for responsible adult But this might also be where Steve’s mainstream United States made a trade law in the United Nations users. I’m a travel writer and, for me, high is a place. “everyman” personality and mild manner served him requiring everybody to keep marijuana illegal. Sometimes I want to go there. There’s no good reason well. How could one consider this gentleman to be Because of this law, any country that for my government to tell me I can’t go to that place irresponsible? He often advocates called high. I believe the mature, adult, recreational and speaks freely about Cannabis HE’S BEEN HOSTING HIS PROGRAM, RICK dares legalize marijuana will incur trade sanctions from the USA and of marijuana is a civil liberty,” he said. on his show. STEVES’ EUROPE ON PUBLIC TELEVISION all other signatories of that law. The useSteves recently traveled to DC to visit Jeff Sessions “I think it’s good citizenship to United States has a lot of sway. That’s himself and to lobby Congress on decriminalization reconsider a law that might be SINCE 1991 AND HE ALSO HOSTS A ONEwhy I hear the word decriminalized a of Cannabis. “There are so many reasons to end the causing more harm than good. HOUR WEEKLY RADIO SHOW. lot. You can’t legalize it, but you can prohibition on marijuana,” Steves said in one of his Today’s marijuana laws — like the briefings before lawmakers. laws against alcohol during Prohibition — are causing say you’re going to ignore it.” Getting more Americans to visit Europe is seen by “Whether you’re concerned about the well-being of more harm to our society than the drug they are children, fairness for minority communities, redirecting designed to protect us from, ” Steves said in a 2012 many as a necessary step to enlighten more everyday Americans on the benefits of European social money away from criminals and into state’s coffers, interview with LA Weekly. stemming the horrific bloodshed in Mexico, or civil Steves has been able to try Cannabis all over the programs, many of which are desperately needed liberties; it is clearly time for a new approach.” world, and because of his travels, he’s seen first-hand here in the US. Rick Steves has done a terrific job with Thanks to Rick Steves efforts, we’re getting closer the damage that United States-style prohibition has his life’s work. When it comes to Cannabis, though, Steves may be one of the best advocates we have. and closer to that innovative approach every day. done to Cannabis culture in other countries.
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