“I’ve traveled throughout Europe and seen how they handle marijuana use and enforcement,” says Steves “More thoughtful approaches can work.”Last week, Nina Shapiro wrote about how tough economic times are accelerating the war on the war on drugs. At 7:00 next Wednesday, a formidable assembly of those counter-warriors will be speaking at the Kirkland Performance Center. The ACLU is hosting the event, which will feature a screening of their video, “Marijuana: It’s Time for a Conversation”. The video looks at the history and effectiveness of marijuana prohibition laws, which cost us billions annually and focus on a drug with no known lethal dose. Needless to say, we think those laws are a steaming pile of futility and waste, but what we’re most excited about is the makeup of the ACLU panel.The host will be Rick Steves, who is possibly the world’s most good-natured traveler–quite an accomplishment when you consider the good nature of travelers generally. Furthermore, he could pass for the bigger, better-looking brother of Bill Gates. Joining him will be Roger Goodman, the smooth-talking Kirkland Democrat who went from hardcore drug policy reform advocate to swing district state representative (via lots of door-knocking) without going back on his arguments for decriminalization. Goodman also looks a little like the late Rat-Packer Peter Lawford.Additionally, the panel will feature Seattle’s own Nick Licata, the councilmember and criminal justice policy reformer who, at this very moment, is trying quixotically to save the P-I, and who we all know resembles film auteur Woody Allen. Rounding out the panel will be super-sharp ACLU lawyer Alison Holcomb and retired judge David Nichols. Short of adding Sam Perkins and Douglas Hiatt, this is the best local pot panel we could imagine. Have at it, y’all!