Pubdate: Tue, 09 Oct 2012
Source: Herald, The (Everett, WA)
Copyright: 2012 The Daily Herald Co.
Contact:  http://www.heraldnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/190
Author: Sharon Salyer

TRAVEL WRITER RICK STEVES ON STUMP FOR MARIJUANA MEASURE

The Edmonds travel expert, a co-sponsor of I-502, has scheduled two 
stops in Snohomish County to promote the measure.

International travel expert Rick Steves will speak at two events in 
Snohomish County this month, part of an 11-city statewide tour to 
promote passage of Initiative 502.

The initiative would allow people 21 and older to buy an ounce of 
marijuana from stores regulated and licensed by the state, where it 
would be taxed at 25 percent.

The Snohomish County events are scheduled for noon Oct. 16 at the 
Everett Station and 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynnwood.

The events will include a 40-minute presentation by Steves and time 
for questions and answers.

I-502 is not pro marijuana, Steves said. "It's anti-marijuana 
prohibition. The best way to control something is not to make it 
illegal, but to regulate it and educate people on the danger of its use."

Steves, 57, owns a nationally recognized travel business in Edmonds. 
He also has been an advocate for reform of marijuana laws for 15 
years, serving as an advisory board member for the National 
Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws.

He is a co-sponsor of I-502.

Opponents have objected to the initiative for reasons as varied as 
the problems in testing whether a driver is impaired by recent 
marijuana use, whether legalizing adult use would send the wrong 
message to youth about drugs, and whether the federal government 
might vigorously fight efforts by states to legalize marijuana.

Steves' tour will take him to every corner of the state, from 
Bellingham to Vancouver, Walla Walla to Spokane.

Steves said he was excited about the trip that will take him 
throughout the state in eight days, beginning Friday in Olympia.

Talk of legalizing marijuana has been taboo for years, Steves said.

"I think our nation is ripe for one state to step out against this 
prohibition," he said. "In the 1930s, Prohibition was brought down 
one state at a time."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom