POT RALLY, CITY EVENT IN CONFLICT

PARKERSBURG - Alternate arrangements were made Wednesday so a march and
rally for legalizing marijuana for medicinal uses won't conflict with the
family-oriented "Parkersburg Through the Looking Glass" event on Saturday.

The Mountaineers for Medical Cannabis was planning a rally at Bicentennial
Plaza from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the same time of the day-long downtown
Through the Looking Glass promotion organized by the Parkersburg-Wood
County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The bureau has been planning the
event for several months, and Wednesday was the first time anyone with the
agency had heard of the medical marijuana rally.

''I didn't know anything about it,'' said Steve Nicely, president of the
tourist bureau.

The Mountaineers group obtained a permit from the police department and
paid $100 for two police officers for the march, said Carol Wimer, state
director of the group, part of the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis.
It was originally scheduled to start from Bicentennial Plaza, move to
Juliana Street next to the Bureau of Public Debt, go to Fifth Street, to
Market Street and back to the plaza.

''We don't know if there will be one or 1,000 people,'' she said. ''This is
the first time this is being held in Parkersburg.''

The rally was moved to Point Park with the aid of the police department,
said Mayor Jimmy Colombo, who also was unaware of the rally. Without
judging the merit of the Mountaineers' cause, Colombo said it would be
inappropriate for children to be near the rally.

The change in venue will be advantageous for both events, Colombo said.

''I hope they (the Mountaineers) are happy,'' Colombo said.

Wimer, who was unaware of the scheduling conflict until notified by the
newspaper, said she was appreciative the changes were made.

''I'm glad you told me about this,'' she said.

Supporters say medical marijuana is helpful in easing the side effects of
vomiting and nausea from chemotherapy for cancer and can be used for other
ailments and medical conditions. Other rallies are being held this weekend
around the nation, Wimer said.

The group doesn't endorse the legalization of marijuana other than for
medical reasons, Wimer said.

''That isn't what we're fighting for,'' she said.

The rally will include entertainment and speeches. Speakers will talk about
the medicinal uses, she said.

"Parkersburg Through the Looking Glass" is a major promotion intended to
bring families to downtown Parkersburg. Planned are entertainment at
Bicentennial Plaza and at Fifth and Market streets, a scavenger hunt and a
dozen organizations and businesses that will be open special hours Saturday.

Actors from the Actors Guild will play parts from Alice in Wonderland and
Through the Looking Glass, written by Lewis Carroll, including Alice, the
Queen of Hearts and the White Rabbit, at the participating organizations.

''We'll have quite a few characters in costume,'' Nicely said. ''And
probably some characters not in costume.''

The tourist bureau will plan other events intended to bring people to
downtown, Nicely said.

Registration for the scavenger hunt starts 9 a.m. at Bicentennial Plaza and
the scavenger hunt starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Participants can
register anytime and take part in the hunt at their leisure as there is no
time limit, Nicely said.

''There's no prize for finishing first,'' he said.

Everyone completing the course will be eligible for the grand prize
drawing. The prize for a child 12 and younger is $500. For an adult or
couple, the prize is a $1,000 savings bond.

T-shirts will be given to the first 500 children who find all the objects
or information in the scavenger hunt.

Entertainment will be available at Bicentennial Park from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
and from noon to 4 p.m. at Adams Park at Fifth and Market.

Performances of Alice in Wonderland by the Missoula Children's Theatre at
the Smoot Theatre will be held 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Reservations are
required at 422-PLAY. Tickets are $7 adults and $5 children.

A Queen of Hearts Tea Party and a garden tour will be held in the Julia-Ann
Square Historic District.

Development projects in Parkersburg will be on display at the municipal
building in an exhibit sponsored by the Area Roundtable and the city.

Admission to the downtown museums will be free.

Twelve organizations are now on the participation list, Nicely said. The
Schrader Youth Ballet, in its new studio at Sixth and Market streets, came
on board Wednesday.

Others participating are the Actors Guild, the Red Cross, Blennerhassett
Museum, Public Debt, Cultural Center of Fine Arts, Julia-Ann Square
Historic District, the Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club in the Noe
Office building, Oil and Gas Museum, Smoot Theatre, Trans Allegheny Books
and the courthouse.