Travel as a Political Act: Tour of Oregon so far
By Rick Steves
Last night, I had the privilege of speaking to about 300 people in downtown Salem at the Grand Theater. Just a few blocks from the Oregon capitol building. I was introduced by Sammy Basu, a professor of politics at Willamette University. It was a thrilling talk. It is always exciting to share my perspective and the stories of my travels and how it relates to drug policy in the United States, but even more thrilling because of the questions that came from the audience at the end.
There was a former prosecutor in the audience who shared his personal experience with the imbalance of our justice system when it comes to even small crimes. When a poor kid and wealthy kid are arrested for marijuana the outcomes are vastly different. The wealthy kid has parents who can help him navigate the system, ensure that he dresses nicely for court appearances, pay for a lawyer, and help translate the complexities of the legal system. A poor kid may not even have a ride to court, let alone a lawyer to help them through the legal process.
Treating marijuana as a crime has failed and it’s failing our kids, it’s setting young people back early in their lives, leaving them behind for the rest of their lives. This is true in cities across Oregon just like Salem, and in my home state of Washington. More than 13,000 people were arrested or cited in Oregon last year for marijuana; the war on drugs isn’t working.
Inconsistent enforcement of a law erodes respect for law enforcement and for the legal process. Let’s stop wasting police resources and refocus their efforts on serious and violent crimes and vote YES on Measure 91. Marijuana use is a serious, expensive and persistent challenge in our society. And it’s time for a new approach. That’s why I co-sponsored the initiative that legalized the responsible adult use of marijuana in Washington state two years ago.
Now, with first hand knowledge of what’s happened in Colorado and Washington after they passed their laws taxing, regulating and legalizing the responsible adult use of marijuana, we can say it is going well. The Brookings Institute issued a study on how things are progressing. They reported that the fears regarding increased teen use, DUIs, and crime are not materializing and, on balance, taking the crime out of the equation is looking like a smart move.
There are so many reasons to end the prohibition on marijuana. Whether you want to improve the well-being of children, redirect money away from criminals and into tax revenue for the state or protect civil liberties, it’s clearly time for a better approach. Rather than being “hard on drugs” or “soft on drugs,” by passing Measure 91, Oregon can finally be smart about drugs. Please vote yes.
Our stop in Beaverton was a standing-room only affair. What an enjoyable way to spend a lunch hour. Check out this short video on my visit:
Rick Steves lives in the Seattle area, writes European travel guidebooks, and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio.