MARIJUANA MARCH PLANNED FOR SATURDAY IN PALM SPRINGS

An organizer of Million Marijuana March events and her supporters are
headed back to Palm Springs.

Aurora Maldonado plans to conduct a march Saturday to celebrate
marijuana and protest its "prohibition," according to a press release.
She organized a similar march last year in Palm Springs.

"It's all about liberating marijuana," Maldonado said in the release.
"Marijuana is good medicine for a lot of people and it is time to stop
arresting people for using this harmless plant and that's what the
march is all about."

Marchers will meet at 10:30 a.m. at the parking structure at the
corner of Baristo Road and Indian Canyon Drive and march through
downtown. They will chant, wave signs, hand out information about
marijuana and encourage people to speak to elected officials about
ending its prohibition.

Maldonado, who grew up in Desert Hot Springs, was diagnosed with
lymphoblastic leukemia. She said using marijuana, as well as her faith
in God, helped relieve the side effects of chemotherapy.

"I don't think I should be labeled as a criminal because I take a
medication that helps me," she said.