I just enjoyed a very busy day on Capitol Hill, meeting with key members of Congress and advocating for an end to the federal prohibition on marijuana.
My host for the day was Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer, and we packed a lot into our schedule. Take a peek here as we work with lawmakers to find a path forward for marijuana legalization, I join forces with Bread for the World — and even bump into Jon Stewart.
I had breakfast this morning with some of my friends from NORML, and we were marveling at how dramatically the national mood on marijuana has shifted. These days, virtually every leader in the Democratic Party understands the need for change — and many Republicans also see the wisdom in ending prohibition. It’s exciting to see democracy in action.
Every winter, I take a road trip across the USA, giving talks along the way. This year’s trip is a big one: 25 cities in 30 days, which I kicked off with a full week dedicated to drug policy reform and helping to legalize marijuana.
Working the halls of Congress
I have embraced this cause for many years. I’ve been a board member of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, since 2003. In 2012, I was a co-sponsor, major funder, and leading spokesperson for I-502, an initiative that legalized, taxed, and regulated the recreational use of marijuana for adults in Washington State. On election day that year, Washington and Colorado became the first jurisdictions in the world to attempt to turn a thriving marijuana black market into a highly taxed and regulated legal market. Many others had decriminalized marijuana, but it was a historic first to entirely legalize it (to honestly sort out the complicated “back-end” issues of wholesaling and distribution).
When I talk to audiences about marijuana, I always say, “I’m not pro-pot. I’m anti-prohibition, anti-racial discrimination, and pro-civil liberties.” And I always remind my audiences that marijuana is a drug, it can be dangerous, and it can be abused. But we now know, after a five-year track record in WA and CO, that when you legalize smartly, adult use stays essentially the same, teen use does not go up, crime does not go up, and DUIs do not go up. What does go up are protections of our civil liberties — and tax revenue. Marijuana was once a thriving illegal market in Washington State (rivaling apples in sales) that empowered and enriched organized crime. Now, it’s part of the legal market – and, with $1.3 billion in yearly sales, it’s a big part. Marijuana generated $319 million in revenue for our state last year alone. And we’re no longer arresting about 8,000 (mostly poor and black) people each year.
Because I’m so proud of what we’ve done for social justice, civil liberties, and public safety in our state, each election cycle I dedicate a week or so of my time to share this information with other states. In 2014, it was Oregon (we won). In 2016, it was Massachusetts and Maine (we won). And in 2018, I’m preaching the gospel of legalization in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Vermont.
I started off the week in Washington DC, working the halls of Congress with lobbyists from NORML and the Marijuana Policy Project (and marveling at how omnipresent NRA lobbyists were). We dropped in on several Representatives and met Senators in the hallways, always sharing our experience, and we hosted briefings for Congressional aides in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. There’s actually a bipartisan Congressional Cannabis Caucus now — with scores of lawmakers on board. We’re making serious progress at the federal level.
My schedule has been really packed with fun recently. Since Sunday, I’ve been in Washington, DC, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. And right before I got here, I enjoyed a whirlwind lecture tour through Kansas City, Grand Junction, and Milwaukee. It was a great little trip, filled with crowds crazy about travel, and I got to talk in beautiful halls — such as Milwaukee’s venerable Pabst Theater.
Photo: Wade Johnston
Rather than make people wait politely in the conventional long line for an autograph, after I give a talk I like to hang out in the lobby and just say, “Pretend you’re in Italy and there’s no line…just gather around, and I’ll turn in a circle, signing whatever’s in front of me until there’s nothing left to sign.” The pandemonium is always a lot of fun (and far quicker than the alternative).
Photo: Matt Perley
In Milwaukee, I had an unforgettable experience during my post-talk scrum. For 20 years, I’ve closed each episode of Rick Steves’ Europe with the tagline, “Keep on travelin’.” I’ve seen my sign-off line on hats, T-shirts, and journals. But this was a first: Three happy travelers actually greeted me with brand-new “Keep on Travelin’” tattoos.
And in Grand Junction, I spoke to a very spirited crowd at the Colorado Tourism Conference. Many people at the conference were using their state’s name as a verb — and, that night, I was very nearly “Colorado’d” myself. To add memories to the already-fun little road trip, I dropped by the Twisted Turtle for some high-altitude fun and went local, for a moment, with the help of a fine cowboy hat.
Today, Lutherans everywhere are commemorating Reformation Day — the 500th anniversary of the day Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg’s Castle Church, kicking off the Protestant Reformation. I’m in Washington, DC, and I’ve been celebrating since Sunday.
Whenever a big church event is held here, it’s likely to be at the Washington National Cathedral, a must-see attraction when visiting our capital. On Reformation Sunday, thousands of Lutherans filled the place. It was High Church at its best — lots of bishops, red scarves and ties everywhere, a celebration of many cultures, and amazing music. Being among so many Lutherans singing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (our “fight song”) made it particularly unforgettable. And I got to enjoy a few lighthearted moments before the service with my friend, David Beckmann, President of Bread for the World (an organization we’ve supported for decades through our work at Rick Steves’ Europe).
After the service, I partied at the Mayflower Hotel with our wonderful Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, and church leaders from far and wide. For the first time in my life, I wore a bowtie — thanks to some thoughtful friends who saw I was a bit underdressed and had neglected to wear the color of the day: red. Wearing a fancy little bowtie at the Mayflower Hotel…it just made perfect sense.
Together with Bishop Eaton, we celebrated diversity. We raised a glass to Elizabeth Platz, who became the first female Lutheran pastor in 1970, and we honored guests from around the world. Of course, my Lutheran heritage is as white as can be, but there are far higher proportions of Lutherans in several African countries — including Tanzania and Namibia —than there are in the USA. I’m also proud that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was a leader in welcoming gay members and clergy — even though that caused hundreds of congregations to leave, in search of less open churches.
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
Today, we’re in the midst of an impressive capital campaign to make both our foundation and our reach stronger. And, while Luther managed to split the “one catholic and universal Church,” a big part of our 500th-anniversary joy is how, after five centuries — with leadership from both Pope Francis and Bishop Eaton — the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church have never been closer and healthier in their shared mission.
Yesterday, our group visited the delightful Folger Shakespeare Library (just a block behind the Capitol). The library has one of the world’s top collections of books and documents from the Reformation and the 16th century. They welcomed us with an amazing literary treat: a table of precious works from the age of Luther, including an actual papal indulgence — one of the things that riled Luther the most. These were coupons, printed up en masse and sold by the Roman Church, promising forgiveness and a quicker ride to Heaven.
What about you? I’d love to hear about how you are celebrating the the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
Yesterday I was walking around the Tidal Basin to celebrate the arrival of the cherry blossoms while visiting my daughter Jackie in Washington DC. We popped into the FDR Memorial, and I was blindsided by how it inspired me.
Aware of all the rancor lately in our capital city, I lost myself in the natural and thought-provoking space the four outdoor rooms of the FDR Memorial. It was a misty morning. While this memorial lacked the grandiose feel of the nearby Jefferson Memorial, the Roosevelt Memorial swept me away: Heavy stones, cascading waterfalls (the challenge of troubled waters, and then life and hope), tangled vines, bronze statues of salt-of-the-earth people bearing hard times, and memories of a great statesman who inspired a nation to be both strong and civilized.
Depression, war, and fear gripped our nation then as it does now. And Roosevelt, rather than using more fear and scapegoats, reminded us that “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” With his leadership and New Deal, he appealed to our higher nature to inspire greatness in our citizenry. The quotes chipped into the rustic stone walls on the misty stroll struck me. Their wisdom seemed both timeless and timely. And with the perspective provided by the passage of a little time, the way our country’s “Greatest Generation” responded then gave me hope that we can still make FDR proud. Let these quotes take you on a 2010 walk with FDR, as they did me:
“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”
“In these days of difficulty, we Americans everywhere must and shall choose the path of social justice, the path of faith, the path of hope, and the path of love toward our fellow men.” —From a campaign address, Detroit, Michigan, October 2, 1932
“Men and nature must work hand in hand. The throwing out of balance of the resources of nature throws out of balance also the lives of men.” —From a Message to Congress on the Use of Our Natural Resources, Washington DC, January 24, 1935
“I propose to create a Civilian Conservation Corps to be used in simple work; more important, however, than the material gains will be the moral and spiritual value of such work.” —From a Message to Congress on Unemployment Relief, Washington DC, March 21, 1933
“I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed. I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war.” —From an address at Chautauqua, NY, August 14, 1936
“More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginnings of all wars.” —From an undelivered address prepared for Jefferson Day to be delivered April 13, 1945
“Unless the peace that follows recognizes that the whole world is one neighborhood and does justice to the whole human race, the germs of another world war will remain as a constant threat to mankind.” —From an address to White House Correspondents’ Association, Washington DC, February 12, 1943
Travel—whether abroad our in our own country—roughs up the surface of our outlook so lessons stick better. I’m so glad Jackie studies in Washington DC so, together, we get to explore our nation’s capital.
