3 RIVERS TO ALLOW PRO-MARIJUANA BOOTH AT FESTIVAL

Organizers will let group set up shop, but issue still stirs controversy

From Staff Reports

Although the 3 Rivers Music Festival has been open to bringing in
controversial acts like Ludacris, when it comes to marijuana there's a
problem.

The local chapter of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws
(NORML) said festival organizers initially rejected its application to have
a booth at this year's festival, which takes place April 16-18.

After receiving letters from the South Carolina American Civil Liberties
Union, 3 Rivers has agreed to let NORML have a booth.

But the issue is still smoldering.

According to Denyse Williams, director of the South Carolina ACLU chapter,
festival organizers want NORML members to stay in their booth.

Henry Koch, president of the Midlands chapter of NORML, said he wouldn't
accept any such requirement.

"They're saying that free speech exists only in that booth," he said. "You
either have free speech or you don't have free speech."

Virginia Bedford, director of the festival, said several people complained
last year when NORML members tried to give them literature.

No other groups have free-standing booths at the festival.

Some, including Prevent Child Abuse of South Carolina, the March of Dimes
and the Columbia City Ballet, will be in booths provided by businesses,
Bedford said.