PBS Travel Guru Rick Steves: Smoking Pot is "My Civil Liberty"

[viniciusb]

Here's the root of the problem and why drugs will not be legalized in the States. Corporations run every faction of this country, including the incarceration system. There are more and more private jails being built in America and the cost for taxpayers can reach 50K/year per prisoner, approx. $135/day. Even public prisons outsource their services to companies such as Dick Cheney's Halliburton. They are hotels one can't checkout, the only difference is that you get stuck with the bill.

[jakenbishop]

I love what he has to say but is he also gay? just wondering.

[viniciusb]

@jakenbishop He is straight and married with a couple of kids, not that it should matter.

[yankeecolin21]

holy shit around 1:49 the guy behind him looks the exact same!?

[MasterTubing]

I'm of the belief that everyone has the civil right to responsibly consume any substance they see fit for themselves, and I have the right to take the piss out of drug fucked twits who ramble on making no sense resulting in great entertainment for us drug-free sensible ones. My civil liberty, lmao!

[KayCris1128]

Ron Paul, if you don't know him look him up. The War on Drugs is an expensive, dangerous, and has already failed.

[Gabriel123760]

Ah who cares he works for PBS

[MarkInEugene]

Sensible, wonderful, interesting human being. I'm not a smoker, but I'm in complete agreement with Rick! I've sent requests to both my senators and representative after hearing his common sense explanation to get Congress to approach this issue with greater rationality and less idiotic paranoid conservative oppression.

[TheBgoz]

it's just weed...i don't get what the big deal is.

[TheSlinkyGuyShow]

@TheBgoz Exactly.

[madjimms]

Rick Steves for PRESIDENT!

[Chronos127]

Many good points he made!!! Well said!!!...only place I disagree is about driving, for some it maybe a bad combo, but I feel I pay more attention when driving smoked out,,,and I can confidently say that I've felt like more of an impaired driver while on some cold remedy products, ie Dayquil, etc., than while smoked out.............LEGALIZE IT U HYPOCRITES!!!

[bryphi77]

This is a deceptive vid...

No need to be a wage slave to have freedom to do what the fuck i want. This guy seems to think that humans should be forced to labor for paper, and should have freedom to smoke weed as some sort of reward for being a dependent slave fucktard.

This is pro enslavement propaganda disguised as a pro weed vid... For those that are too fucking brainwashed to realize it.

[666420chris]

@bryphi77 does not even know what he said!!!! Not everything out on the web has a double meaning!! Especially about pro enslavement propaganda!!! Do know know how stupid you just sounded!!!

[bryphi77]

@666420chris Can you explain to me what working and paying taxes has to do with my freedom to smoke weed?

I do admit that I only listened to the first 30 sec... cause thats all it took to realize this man is a mind raped dependent slave that enjoys his enslavement.

[666420chris]

@bryphi77Let me explain like i would for a child.Smoking weed is illegal no matter how much state decriminalizes it, the federal law says its illegal! If a hard working, tax paying citizen gets caught with a fuckin joint that does not have a perscription or federal consent will be thrown in jail! A hard working, tax paying citizen that smokes a joint every now and then, in jail with murders, and rapist?Does that sound like justice to you?Now tell me how does this video deal with enslavement?

[666420chris]

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK RICK STEVES!! The people believe in you!!!! The U.S needs to modernize with their childish marijuana laws!!!

[littleyirkie]

good for him

[Palnikman]

man this dude is old now...

[ShortyDoWop87]

ur the man i think u should b the spokesman for norml



[mplsbikelove]

The video was 3 seconds away from being 4:20 :/

[c4h5n2o1]

You mean, "...has affected his books sales..." right?

[trishmfdish]

This makes me very happy! I freaking love Rick Steves!!!



[flyinbry]

drugs are the least the the problems in the US...

[iXHeatSeekerXi]

@flyinbry Its actually a huge problem

[sim0b]

A European sensibility??? Whats that supposed to mean? Europe is not a country DUH!!! IE Britain is Not France LOL!!!

I think he means Holland!

[dgm1514]

@sim0b (Benefit of doubt here... But in case you are serious.)

In the EU, a number of other countries (not just the Netherlands) are handling cannabis (and drugs) in a saner way than the US has been able to. Portugal, Czech Repub., Estonia, Spain, Croatia, Belgium; all have a range of harm reduction / civil rights policies in place with many more being considered in time.

More broadly, a European Sensibility tends to mean an open minded, laissez-faire, socially liberal way of doing things.

[Emery098]

@sim0b he doesn't imply europe is a country.... and trust me, this blunt smoking fucker knows a lot more about europe than you ever will. its his job

[macrumpton]

I basically agree with him although I think that the fact that the US can't even get a handle on giving our citizens healthcare for diseases and accidents suggests that healthcare spending for dealing with drug abuse is even harder to get.

We like our punishment hard in the USA, especially if you enjoyed what you were doing, and helping drug addicts feels too much like coddling for a lot of folks.

[DoctressJulia]

I LOVE YOU, RICK STEVES!

[breathnstop]

i think it shows he is not a bigot in that he recognizes that law enforcement unfairly targets non white and poorer people who cant afford to fight a charge like that and risk losing their future because of it. many white people dont realize that and continue to believe the myth that the law is fairly applied across the board.

[breathnstop]

i think he is just using the buzz words that most conservatives banty around to describe "responsible citizens", its sort of tongue in cheek. like, "hey average white guys in america with mortgages and lawns to mow, and who take their kids to sunday school think pot should be legalized too". he is just blasting the stereotype to make a statement, the stereotype of a antisocial drug abuser.

[randomactsofreason]

@breathnstop replacing one stereotype with another is hardly enlightened.

[pitot1988]

in other countries, one will be executed if he/she carry illegal substances!

[lolomooney621]

@pitot1988 we don't live in other countries, do we?

[danherbert96]

Who doesn't take drugs because its illegal... seriously? People decide whether they want to take drugs based on every other reason than it being illegal.

[Warpchy]

Did not know this man smoked pot. Then again, could've made that connection.

[randomactsofreason]

"Church going"? What does that have to do with civil rights or virtue? Clearly, Rick Steves' right to be a bigot is not infringed.

[TheSquidgyBlack]

@randomactsofreason That's not exactly the point. Just being a church goer does not make you a bigot. Being a bigot makes you a bigot. He's just trying to point out that people of all sorts - including Christians - can enjoy Cannabis. just because he mentions religion does not make him a religious bigot.

You could even say that assuming all church-goers are bigots would be... shall we say, bigoted. Look up the word - it really doesn't mean what you think it does.

[randomactsofreason]

@TheSquidgyBlack Would you be saying that if he had said, "White" rather than "church-going"?

He was clearly making a list of what he considered evidence of virtue: "hard-working" , "tax-paying", "kid-raising", "church-going"

Just think of opposites of each of those terms. "lazy bum", "tax-evading", "kid-neglecting", "atheist". Oops.

[vtblues]

@randomactsofreason The stereotype of a pot smoker is lazy, irresponsible, neglectful of their children and immoral. In my opinion he's just countering those misconceptions.

[randomactsofreason]

@vtblues Thank you for making my point for me. You just explicitly equated not being "church-going" with "immoral".

Public statements of overt prejudice by people like Rick Steves just give prejudice like yours cover. That is why people who are the target of such prejudice speak out when it is so casually thrown around.

[TheSquidgyBlack]

@randomactsofreason All I'm saying is that it takes a lot more for me to call a man a bigot than an out of context quote and assumption on words he did not say...

[john34841]

Rick Steves is awesome, I loved his videos even before I knew he was a supporter of civil liberties.

[cbrlsx]

Why are they interviewing him in front of the garbage cans? Was the spot in front of the port-a-pots taken?

[LuckyMarketGameplay]

"These are poor people, and black people..." o.O lololol

[greenghost30]

@direct2088 I agree when its there children getting beatup and jailed its different. B4 they thought only criminals do that. And police r all honest and don't lie and abuse power/wives daily. Rite

[Vegemighty]

I bet Mr Rogers smoked pot too

[Aeschylus]

Future generations are going to look back on our prohibition of both alcohol and marijuana and say, WTF.

[BRINK00]

While I applaud Rick Steves on his stance on civil liberties in regards to pot - I really don't like his idea of a bigger government. Wasn't he recently complaining about not being taxed enough? The he goes out and gives a million dollars to some art place in Seattle to make a statement about taxes - yet doesn't make the connection that if he gave this amount in taxes his art place wouldn't receive the money from the government anyway - that he is better at deciding who should get the money.

[chewbaca1989]

I don't smoke weed, be my guest!

[krypekeeper]

I dont do drugs, i smoke weed.

[tmmy773]

Awesome i always thought Rick Steves was a good guy.

[lordcrull]

I thought it was an individual right and not a civil one.

[agrv8ion]

The stigma against marijuana is one of the most unfortunate things. People who could benefit from it might never try it because they've been told that marijuana is for losers. Going through the comments here is plenty of proof for that. (Stoner! Pothead! Hippie!) I have used marijuana for my PMDD and it helped me get out of bed, feel good about my day & sleep through the night. Illinois hasn't even considered medical usage yet. My only legal option is a heap of stomach-eroding painkillers.

[karozans]

I am not at all interested in becoming like Europe in any way shape or form. But Marijuana needs to be fully legalized and treated the same as alcohol.

[karozans]

Wow this guy's demeanor is 180 degrees different than what is seen on PBS.

[h4tefury85]

In Sweden pot is in the same league as meth heroin and other heavy drugs.

If you smoke pot and drive your car 3 weeks later u will get arrested for dui.

[tmmy773]

@h4tefury85 How many Swedes take vacations in Holland? Just wondering.

[h4tefury85]

@tmmy773 Alot of people go there :-)

When people return they can still be prosecuted for the THC still in their bodies.Even thou they have done the drug where its legal.

People returning from flights to Holland are more likely to have to take a "Random" drug test when they have landed.

[tmmy773]

That is very cool the Swedish people can go there to have a good time :) That is totally wrong to bust people in "random" drug tests...yeah right. They should go to Belgium and then the train to Holland :) If a law is stupid people will eventually find a way around it. THC will remain 10-30 days...there are several online companies that sell products to beat the test...i heard if you drink a med jar pickle juice you can pass the test..friend told me so i'm not positive.

[AllStarBugler]

@h4tefury85 Wanna be more specific, because if you are saying there are drug testers waiting at the airport to take your urine sample, you are a LIAR.

[sickofcommies]

Obama was elected to make us more European. It's a total fuckin' failure!

[sickofcommies]

STATE RUN MEDIA? REALLY REASONTV?

POT? GET OVER IT HIPPIES. Do it illegally or stfu.

European? Fuck that shit.

[MEpianist]

Rick Steves is a great man. All I can say is, people! Call your congressmen! Support HR2306...

[BlackSwanTactical]

OK, so if we lose that 40% in production we are going to cut 40% of the LIBERAL programs out of the budget right away. And that will be easy.  Any college student failing a drug test will not qualify for school loans. Any person on welfare or unemployment testing stoned ever will NOT qualify for the income. Any teacher, cop, doctor, nurse, heavy eq handler ....will lose JOB.

[nt109]

@BlackSwanTactical

shouldn't you be playing with your numchucks rather than worrying about whether people are smoking pot or not?

[BlackSwanTactical]

@nt109 I don't do numchucks but I do worry about being killed by a stoned pot head and seeing the US turned in to a bigger sewer than it already is. I've done intervention on Chinese Triad members in Frisco on Extacy, PCP and cocaine and met many homeless due to the ravages of heroin. Can you imagine 40% less GDP! Hahahaha, let me tell you, if we had 40% more GDP we could send everyone to college for FREE. Even a pot head like you.

[nt109]

@BlackSwanTactical

what about alcohol, or high-fat foods, doesn't both of those mentioned have an affect on GDP as well ? I heard on CNN last night, that something around 50 billion a year is added to healthcare costs because of heart disease. So should we make fatty unhealthy foods and alcohol illegal as well? I don't see why not, then we can have the french fry gangs running around inner cities and guys like you would be busy for many lifetimes

[BlackSwanTactical]

@nt109 Well? I think we need to do something to get the economy going and spur higher GDP, and given your unique talents I would be willing to have you sit on the street corner, with a Havana sized joint stuck in your mouth. You might have dreadlocks too. Just think of it. Then we could put a thick steel collar around your neck, chain you to a lamp post, put a cup in your hand, and a sign in front of you that says, "Help me to increase the GDP!"...and let you beg for your next joint.

[BlackSwanTactical]

@nt109 I think you had better take life more seriously. Take care of your LIFE because there is just ONE SHOT, AND OPPORTUNITY MAY CALL JUST ONCE like the man himself says, and you cannot fail. I suggest very strongly you listen to Eminem, and the "8-mile" CD, and the song, "Lose Yourself" here on YouTube.

[BlackSwanTactical]

@nt109 keep following Rick Steves around and you are going to have a lisp like him too...

[BlackSwanTactical]

Using Steves logic Europeans should be outperforming US citizens due to being able to light up. But with that added HIGH Europeans FAIL, and if Steves was from Europe he might not have two nickles to travel with. US pop in 2006, was 296,398,484 with GDP per person at $44,362.69. EU pop in 2006, 487,293,413 with GDP per person of $27,394.34. Each AMERICAN outperforms a European by 40% in production.

[BlackSwanTactical]

#1) MJ taxes will never be paid because gangs will always deliver a lower price #2) there is NO known safe amount for driving and I've been there so I know #3) there is NO safe amount for weapons handling or medical, so if you toke, you should not be able to be a cop, military, nurse, doctor, operate heavy equipment, or pilot a plane or auto for 24 to 48 hours #4) since you cannot function for 6 hrs, NO KIDS, because you are going to possibly be unable to handle a situation.

[kmonster420]

@BlackSwanTactical Man you are a square ...

[BlackSwanTactical]

@kmonster420 actually I was really really wild but, I've seen what that can bring. So I am conservative now. Nothing like being alive.

[moofushu]

I think the industrial criminal complex is the real beneficiary of the drug war. ON another note, law enforcement always say red light cameras save lives and protect the public who buy cars for the exclusive use of running red lights. If they want to save light make the yellow lights 2 seconds longer. You can't believe enforcement when it comes to their pet projects.

[furyofbongos]

PORTUGAL

[truthslap]

@furyofbongos best country in the world. Portugal has a long history of treating its citizens with respect and compassion.

[wye4379]

I've got NO problem with legalizing all drugs. My only problem would the inevitable calls by liberals for my tax dollars to be used to treat people who got in over their heads. Mr. Steves strikes me as just the sort of person who would do that. He wants to take the policies of failed European welfare states and move them here to America (we have enough failed "social" policies of our own thank you). You want freedom. Fine, but you alone must deal with the consequences or your actions.

[lsh3rd]

@wye4379 To many of your hard earned tax dollars are going toward enforcing ill-thought out laws. Landing people in prison over this is causing more social problems than its solving.

[wye4379]

@lsh3rd Your not going to get an argument out of me on this point. My only point is that you have to be careful about the people calling for legalization. I'm sure many of them are completely responsible, but I always worry about F'up contingent that is going to ask to be bailed out for getting over their skis. To me there is NO difference between the government bailing out banks/auto companies that made bad decisions and bailing out people who have made bad decisions.

[truthslap]

@wye4379 treatment facilities, even if funded by tax payers, would cost a small fraction that our current system does, and it's the humanitarian thing to do for those people born into poverty or other circumstances that might put drugs in front of them while they're young and unsupervised. I agree with you that all drug laws should be rescinded and that every citizen should be held responsible for their own actions, but in this society we do not turn down anybody in need of medical attention.

[HorseWaterDrink]

Ricks been to Amsterdam. fuck yahhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OhNoyate]

I don't do drugs I use them

[chronDiggity]

I like this guy's tours of Europe pieces. He's slightly annoying to listen to but once you get past that his shows really are interesting.

[pdxeddie1111]

no way they gonna legalize there's too much money at stake by keeping it illegal. Think about all the courts, hospitals, prison/jails police, programs, body shops and thats just on the legal side, then you take all the corrupt cash floating to politicians and law enforcement and all the third world drug lords and all those people they employ. It boils down to keeping them illegal is equal to several industries.

[sasquatch989]

@pdxeddie1111 You are 100% correct. And you have killed my buzz 100% :-(

[pdxeddie1111]

@sasquatch989 sorry but doesnt the potential for getting busted add a little extra something to being high? 

[chronDiggity]

@pdxeddie1111

no, it takes away from it. 

[4thstuning]

America doesn't have a drug problem, it has a overbearing government problem!

[OnlyEdandTheAlmost]

I have a new-found respect for Rick Steves. Good for him for speaking his mind in a rational, unemotional, commonsense way. Every American has the right to enjoy himself or to harm himself; the right to be left alone and to take responsibility for his own actions.

[kjar333]

you tell em Steve Dave...uhh Rick Steves

[order9066]

Thumbs up if you have a copy of "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" by Jack Herer.

[oilhammer04]

I'll trade you legalized Marijuana for criminalized killing of the unborn.

[JESTER588]

@oilhammer04 amazing trade

[qualityrkc]

@oilhammer04 thats a dumb way to go about it dude. Why do you want to punish other people bc you cant have your way? People who smoke weed have nothing to do with abortion, dont take it out on them.

[rockinandout]

Fuck you dude you live off of my tax dollars it should be my civil liberty to decide whether or not I wanna fund PBS but I don't have that choice. Liberals are the last people that should be talking about civil liberty.

[canucksrock]

coffee/energy drinks are more addictive and dangerous than pot. which one is legal? It's a ssbackward stupid that something that nature grows for us is illegal

[Sparkygravity]

3:25 Thumbs up for the guy in the background who upturns the garbage can before throwing his trash away and improves his own environment and community without government coercion or regulation.

Government institutions often use the propaganda that people can't act responsibly or act with environmental consideration without government oversight. Thanks to the all the people in the background who take care of themselves and their local environment without a state-certified nanny.

[cyoungso]

New respect for Rick

[GlennEnt]

i never go to the Seattle hempfest, its too big and crowded, but had i known Rick Steves would be there i may have gone. Anyone know why Olympia hempfest was cancled???..

[migkillertwo]

That the right to possess pot is a fundamental right is a VERY hard argument to make after the courts have consistently rejected this argument over the past century.

[ShadowSandy]

@migkillertwo Before marijuana was made criminal, they could not stop you from buying or possessing anything really. Unless they could prove it was illegal through theft or something similar. Marijuana was made illegal in Arizona in hopes that the Mexicans would leave. We gave up liberties to support what was basically a racist agenda. =P

Then old Hurst got ahold of that and decided to make it nationwide, for greed instead of hate. Took out alot of competition.

[johammbass]

Fuck the state

[occz6]

He's unfortunately not talking about all of Europe. // Swede

[paradoarify]

rick steves not as much a faggot as I thought

[FatherTime89]

Woah. I took one of Rick Steve's tours through Europe, it was awesome. Never knew he was in favor of legalizing weed. That's pretty cool.

[iLuvSmartCars]

Um, um, I really don't know what to think.

[AtibbsSPARTAN]

Liberty works

[celtichero9]

I don't smoke or use drugs but I support this 1000% It is a matter of personal freedom! The Government is not my Father so I don't need them to protect me from me!

God Bless

[karozans]

@celtichero9

That's a lot of percent.

[celtichero9]

@karozans I don't do anything 1/2 way! LOL

God Bless

[Aeschylus]

@celtichero9 Good for you. Allowing other people to make different choices from your own is the heart of libertarianism.

[celtichero9]

@Aeschylus It is also my Philosophy as a Teacher. I always want my students to learn to THINK and not to learn to THINK LIKE ME! This is True Freedom!

God Bless

[MrSillywhore]

@celtichero9 Thank you I stopped smoking a few years ago because I had more negative effects than positive, BUT who am I to say it affects my neighbor the same and because of how it affects me I need government force to tell my neighbor I am all knowing and he is wrong! I love my neighbor and as long as he/she doesn't harm me in any way then I say live and let live! Seriously though thanks for your understanding it is to often under appreciated.

[HappilyDayzed]

"I'm a hardworking, tax-paying, kid-raising, church-going citizen of this country," say author and PBS travel host Rick Steves.

This reminds me of a Jiddu Krishnamurti quote, "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Don't get me wrong. I love Rick. I am just trying to move beyond this old way of thinking and consciousness.

[Shn1fty]

omg he said black people THATS RACIST!!!! lol. 3:30

[richardcadbury]

Reason and other libertarian groups are all too happy to lend publicity and support to these clowns.

But where are they when we're trying to get antitrust abolished?

Having a fucking joint most likely...

These ppl are toxic waste and it ain't worth collaborating with them.

[MutantBamHammer]

@richardcadbury o gee, the reason site has an article about the T-Mobile and AT&T merger. LINK:

reason.com/archives/2011/09/05­/wired-for-overregulation

[richardcadbury]

@MutantBamHammer Oh by "they" and "these ppl" i meant the full-time pot lobby. To clarify, when broad-spectrum libertarian groups like Reason help advance the message of narrow-spectrum pot lobbyists, it doesn't seem like we get a lot in return from the pot ppl.

(I should've been clearer)

[MutantBamHammer]

@richardcadbury ok, that seems more reasonable. Thanks for the clarification :)

[TheNorthwestReport]

I don't do drugs, but from my observations Marijuana is much less harmful than many legal substances. Id like to think that if I ever have chronic pain that I could grow my own pain killer that would be much better for me than anything a drug company or brewer could provide me with.

[VoVaKissCam]

@TheNorthwestReport Don't think it, trust me you can believe it!