Rick Steves Talks Travel, Cannabis and Freedom

In the heart of Paris, with the air still fresh with rain and the sun
breaking through the clouds, I sit outside with my pot of coffee and my
notepad at Les Deux Magots, the mythical literary café on the Left Bank.
This institution was a historic haunt for artists, intellectuals and
writers including Simone de Beauvoir, Rimbaud, Hemingway and Sartre. I have
landed in Paris after spending the week in Barcelona for the International
Cannabis Business Conference and Spannabis, one of Europe’s most iconic
cannabis gatherings. Cannabis is not yet legal in France, so being a
respectful and law-abiding tourist, I woefully parted with my Spanish trove
of hashy gifts and accouterments before I arrived. The delicious pastries,
excellent people-watching and the lights of the Eiffel Tower at night are a
most fair exchange.

Watching the world go by, I reflect on my Catalonian adventures of the past
week and the intersection of travel, culture and personal freedom. I can’t
help but think of my conversation with Rick Steves, the beloved PBS travel
guru, on my podcast “Planted with Sara Payan.” His books and television
shows have inspired generations of travelers to step outside their comfort
zones and experience the world.

Rick Steves isn’t solely a travel expert, he’s also a passionate advocate
for cannabis legalization, a cause that ties into his larger philosophy of
freedom and harm reduction. As a member of the national NORML Board of
Directors and, for many years, as its Chair, he has used his platform to
fight for normalization and sensible cannabis policy. In a time when the
world feels increasingly polarized, Steves’ work encourages us to
reconsider how we approach everything from drug policy to democracy and
travel to personal liberty.

One of the things that struck me most about Steves’ advocacy for cannabis
reform is his pragmatic approach to harm reduction. As we talked, he
highlighted the importance of stepping away from outdated, moralistic views
about drugs and focusing on practical, evidence-based solutions that
prioritize public health and safety. Steves described his belief in a
society that embraces “pragmatic harm reduction” as the key to addressing
not just cannabis use, but all substance-related issues. “It’s not about
legislating morality,” Steves said. “It’s about creating laws that
recognize civil liberties while minimizing harm. Legalization is a clear
way forward. We’ve seen it work in countries around the world, and now it’s
time for America to catch up.”
*1978 – Rick Steves on the Hippie Trail in Afghanistan*

For Steves, the criminalization of cannabis users is a social justice
issue. The war on drugs has disproportionately affected marginalized
communities and has contributed to mass incarceration. “The black market
for marijuana is a direct result of prohibition,” he said. “Instead of
making money for organized crime, the legal market can generate tax revenue
that helps fund schools and public safety.”

What makes Steves’ stance on cannabis reform so compelling is the way he
frames it as a matter of personal freedom. In our conversation, he
emphasized how cannabis legalization is tied to the broader struggle for
civil liberties. He started by saying, ”I want to preface our conversation,
Sara, by reminding people I’m not pro-marijuana; I’m pro-civil liberties. I
think marijuana is a drug, and it should be controlled just like alcohol.
But I also think it’s a civil liberty for adults to use marijuana
recreationally. I always like to say I’m a hardworking, tax-paying,
church-going, kid-raising, now grandkid-raising American citizen. And if I
work hard all day, I want to go home and smoke a joint and just stare at
the fireplace for three hours, that’s my civil liberty, you know? Can I get
in my car and drive while I’m under the influence of a drug? No. Throw the
book at me. That’s dangerous; that’s not right. But as a matter of
principle, enjoying marijuana is a civil liberty, and that’s why I’m
active.”

“Legalization is a clear way forward. We’ve seen it work in countries
around the world, and
now it’s time for America to catch up.”
Rick Steves

As a long-time advocate for drug policy reform, Steves is keenly aware of
how cannabis prohibition is utilized to control and oppress certain groups.
“It’s racist,” he said plainly. “The way marijuana laws have been enforced
in this country has been used as a tool for social control—that has to
change.” “Good people smoke pot,” he said. “Good people can responsibly
smoke marijuana, and there’s no shame in that. It’s time we stop
criminalizing responsible adults for their choices.”

Reflecting on his words while I sip coffee and gaze beyond my petite café
table, it’s clear how travel influenced Steves’ personal freedom
perspective. As a global citizen, Rick Steves has spent much of his life
exploring and learning from different cultures. These experiences have
given him a unique lens to critique American drug policy and advocate for
change. He says he believes traveling helps us better understand the human
condition and the importance of freedom.

“I like to say for me, high is a place, and sometimes I want to go there,
and it’s a kind of travel,” Steves said. “That led to my advocacy because
if my government says I can’t go somewhere, whether it’s Cuba or Iran or
Palestine, or getting high on marijuana, there better be a good reason. And
conceivably, there can be a good reason, but if there’s not a good reason,
I feel like it’s my duty as an American to stand up and raise my voice and
say, that’s not right. It’s my civil liberty to go there. I’m an adult, and
as long as I want to go there and it doesn’t mess anybody else up, get out
of my way. I took very personally the prohibition against marijuana because
of my love of travel and the joy it gave me from a creative point of view
as well as the social point of view.”

Cannabis legalization isn’t just an American issue. As Steves pointed out,
more countries around the world are adopting progressive drug policies, and
these changes are profoundly impactful on their societies. In Canada, for
example, cannabis is federally legal, regulated and taxed, generating
significant revenue while also reducing the harms associated with the
illicit market. In Germany, there has been an established medical program
and, more recently, limited federal legalization, allowing individuals to
use the substance without fear of arrest.

As someone who has spent decades traveling the world, Steves has witnessed
firsthand the diverse ways in which different countries approach cannabis.
In the Netherlands and Portugal, marijuana has been decriminalized, and the
results speak for themselves: fewer arrests and more effective public
health strategies. These experiences have shaped Steves’ belief that the US
needs to shift its focus toward regulation, not criminalization. His
optimism for the future of cannabis reform is unmistakable, inspiring hope
for a more progressive approach throughout the nation.

“Cannabis is a cultural issue, but it’s also an economic one,” Steves said.
“Countries that have embraced legalization have seen economic growth, job
creation and a reduction in crime. It’s about more than just marijuana;
it’s about creating policies that are rooted in the real world, not in
outdated myths and moral panic.”

The benefits of legalization are clear, but Steves is also cautious and
realistic. He says he understands that it’s not enough to legalize
cannabis; we must also implement sound regulations to protect public
health. That’s why he advocates for a framework that treats marijuana not
unlike alcohol: regulated, taxed and controlled. “It’s important that we
don’t just legalize cannabis; we need to create a system that ensures it’s
safe, fair and accessible,” he said.

Steves differentiates himself as an advocate for cannabis reform through
his ability to connect the dots between travel, personal freedom and policy
change. In his travels, Steves has gained a deep understanding of the
impact of cultural exchange and the importance of respecting people’s
choices. This perspective makes him an essential voice in the cannabis
movement, as it allows him to see how different societies approach drug
policy and to advocate for a more open-minded, respectful approach to
cannabis use.

In many ways, Steves’ approach to travel mirrors his approach to drug
policy reform: open-minded, thoughtful and driven by a desire to learn from
others. Just as he encourages travelers to embrace new cultures and
perspectives, he urges cannabis activists to broaden their understanding of
the issue and work toward policies that benefit society at large. This
emphasis on learning from other cultures and points of view nurtures a
sense of open-mindedness and understanding, key elements in the fight for
cannabis reform.

As we move deeper into 2025, the future of cannabis reform in the US
remains uncertain. Steves says he has long remained hopeful about the path
forward for cannabis legalization. In our conversation before the
presidential election, he acknowledged the significant political
challenges: “We’ve come so far, but we can’t rest on our laurels,” he said.
“The fight for cannabis legalization is ongoing, and we need to stay
vigilant.” I reflect on this quite often as I see more and more media
coverage that smacks of “reefer madness” rather than educated commentary.
Is this an indicator of a rebound on prohibition or just clickbait to
engage the uninformed masses?

Despite these challenges, Steves continues to view the political landscape
as a crucial moment for cannabis advocates to make their voices heard. With
the current administration’s stance on cannabis policy still unclear,
advocates for reform must remain committed to pushing for change. Steves
emphasizes that this isn’t just about cannabis but broader principles of
democracy and personal liberty.

“We can’t afford to become complacent,” he warned. “This fight isn’t over,
and we need to continue advocating for policies that reflect the values of
personal freedom and harm reduction. If you care about cannabis reform and
personal freedom, you need to get out there and vote. This is about more
than just cannabis; it’s about the kind of country we want to live in. It’s
about democracy, freedom and the right to make our own choices.”

Although the road ahead may be more difficult, Rick Steves says he remains
dedicated to the cause, believing that cannabis reform is still achievable.
As I sit here in Paris, surrounded by history and culture, I can’t help but
think about Steves’ words. The world is changing, and cannabis reform is
one indicator of that transformation. Just as travel broadens our horizons,
cannabis legalization opens up new possibilities for social justice,
personal freedom and public health. We must approach the issue with the
same open-mindedness, curiosity and compassion Steves encourages in his
travels. With committed advocates and leaders such as Rick Steves
continuing the charge, the future of cannabis reform still holds promise,
even as political dynamics shift.

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