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Travel writer Rick Steves and marijuana legalization proponent will speak at UMass Tuesday night.

(Rick Steves Facebook)

AMHERST -- In a perfect world, travel writer and TV show host Rick Steves said, he would be talking about legalizing marijuana in a conservative nook of the state, not the University of Massachusetts.

"I would much rather (speak) to a more conservative organization and venue that wasn't already inclined to be in favor," he said.

But he hopes his talk Tuesday at the Mullins Center will help educate to in attendance on "the finer points of the issue beyond their love of marijuana." Sponsored by the UMass Cannabis Coalition, the 7 p.m. talk is free and open to the public.

The host of the PBS series "Rick Steves' Europe," is speaking here and in Boston Wednesday in support of Question 4 on the Nov. 8 statewide ballot, which would legalize recreational marijuana.

Steves, who has pushed for legalization in Washington, Colorado and Oregon, also plans to offer a matching donation of up to $100,000 to the "Yes on 4" campaign.

Massachusetts is one of six states with marijuana ballot questions next month.

Steves said some conservative groups were reluctant to sponsor the event. "They're so nervous about this. There's the notion this is pro drugs." Or, he said, that supporting legalization is unpatriotic.

"This is not about pro pot," he said in an interview Monday. "It's pro smart law." He said it's about "dealing with structural racism and fiscal responsibility."

People of color are much more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession, he said. "It gives young a people a record."

Steves has been involved in the issue since the 1990s, saying he was inspired by his travels in Europe and the approach of countries there to drug policy.

"This is my contribution to my democracy," he said. "It is my responsibility to speak out against it (criminalization of marijuana)."

Steves, who lives in Washington, said his state and Oregon have generated $120 million in tax revenue from the legal sale of marijuana. That, he said, is "money taken away from organized crime. I don't think there's a down side to what we've done."

The money can be used to educate and do research on marijuana use, he said.

Steves said nationwide change comes state by state, similar to the way gay marriage became legal. "States are incubators of change," he said. In many cases the same fear about legalization played out with gay marriage, he said.

He hopes to help reduce that fear and believes he is a good ambassador for legalization.

"We're not pot smokers," he said. "I'm not scary. ... I'm busy in my church. I care about this issue."

For his talk, Steves will look at what happened during the era of alcohol prohibition in 1920s and why legalization makes sense. He said it was harder and scarier to talk about the issue a decade or so ago. But now, he said, "it's exciting to talk about these days because it's common sense."

The Massachusetts Public Health Association came out recently in opposition to legalization. The association noted the discussion of racial disparities, but said there was no evidence legalization would make a difference.

The Massachusetts Medical Society also opposes legalization, as does Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Attorney General Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

Steves said while many in law enforcement oppose Question 4, many retired police support the legalization.