NUMBER OF MARIJUANA ARRESTS MADE AT GREAT AMERICA ENTRANCE ON THE RISE

Gurnee police say there was a fivefold increase this year in the number of
Six Flags Great America visitors who wanted to get high on something other
than a tall roller coaster.

Visitors had to pass through metal detectors before entering the park for
the second consecutive season. Park officials said they placed the
detectors at the main gate in an attempt to prevent patrons from slipping
in with weapons.

As it happens, security workers have wound up finding guests with marijuana
on them after a metal detector is tripped by a large belt buckle, for
example. Such guests are turned over to a Gurnee police officer stationed
near the front entrance.

Figures released by Gurnee police this week show 340 warning tickets and 30
arrests were made for patrons accused of possessing marijuana from April 15
through Oct. 29.

Last year, front-gate warnings and arrests totaled 77. That means this
season's 370 tickets and arrests for marijuana possession are roughly five
times the number from 1999.

Police Cmdr. Jay Patrick said there were only four arrests for illegal
possession of harder drugs, such as cocaine. He said he was surprised by
the dramatic increase in marijuana arrests.

"I don't know if it's just more people being careless about bringing it
into the park," Patrick said.

Six Flags spokesman Scott Kirn said the increased number of busts was good
for the park, because it prevented undesirable guests from entering.

"Obviously, it's a positive," Kirn said Thursday. "We have a family
atmosphere here. We work very hard at it."

Under the park's policy, anyone caught trying to bring a weapon or illegal
drugs onto the premises is automatically ejected and subject to arrest.
Guests must pay admission before they go through the metal detectors.

Patrick said warnings generally are issued to someone who has only a
marijuana cigarette. He said an arrest likely would be made if the visitor
previously had been warned about marijuana possession or was found with a
package of it.

"The whole idea is to make it a family theme park," Patrick said.