When asked why he’s chosen to focus on marijuana rather than other pressing social issues, Rick Steves’ answer is simple: “Anybody can talk about homelessness and everyone claps, but people are afraid to talk about marijuana…. I can speak out and survive. I don’t need to be elected or promoted.” Steves’ successful company—which publishes guidebooks and hosts overseas trips—employs 80 people. The nature of his business means that he spends a good chunk of each year traveling the world, where he sees firsthand how many other countries have addressed their drug problems more successfully than the United States. He’s occasionally smoked marijuana while abroad and doesn’t want to lie about it to his kids or to anybody else. He believes this country can adopt a pragmatic policy toward marijuana with a focus on harm reduction and public health, rather than tough but counterproductive criminalization. When he accepted the Luther Institute’s Wittenberg Award, recognizing outstanding service to church and society earlier this year, he didn’t pull any punches as he talked about drug policy reform to the mostly conservative crowd.

"Some people think Hempfest is about as green an event as it can get, but we can go greener," he said. "We are looking at ways to reduce our carbon footprints. We are composting both at the cafe and staff kitchen; using biodegradable food utensils (corn, plastics that dissolve); a company called General Biodiesel is harvesting the used cooking oil from vendors; we're running the main stage and Hemposium stage on biodiesel; and printing programs on 100 percent consumer-recycled paper with soy inks."

Packers DT Johnny Jolly Jr.'s court date on charges of felony drug possession...