Pubdate: Thu, 01 May 2008 Source: Desert Sun, The (Palm Springs, CA) Copyright: 2008 The Desert Sun Contact: http://local2.thedesertsun.com/mailer/opinionwrap.php Website: http://www.thedesertsun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1112 Author: Lorraine Whetstone, Staff Writer Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) YOUTH ORGANIZES "MILLION PERSON MARIJUANA MARCH OF PALM SPRINGS" THIS SATURDAY An 18-year-old has organized a march Saturday in Palm Springs to protest the continued prohibition of marijuana, according to a press release. Organizer Aurora Maldonado grew up in Desert Hot Springs "where marijuana was just a part of the natural order of things," according to the release. She now lives in Palm Springs. "I never saw any problems caused by marijuana, and I saw how it helped people. I had friends who got in trouble with the law over it, and I thought it was just stupid, and I wanted to do something about it," Maldonado is quoted in the release. "When I saw an ad for the Million Marijuana March in High Times Magazine, I called them up and decided to hold a march here." Marchers will meet at the parking lot structure at Baristo and Indian Canyon at 11:15 a.m., and are expected to travel through downtown Palm Springs handing out information about marijuana and encouraging people to speak to their elected officials. "We may be young, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't work to liberate marijuana," she's quoted. "Many young people use, and it is way better for them to use marijuana than alcohol." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin