TODAY (4-20) PORTENDS MARIJUANA IN THE AIR

Today is a big day for marijuana use, authorities warn, and they say
marijuana is by far the most common drug in schools.

Josh Brown, a drug abuse counselor at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, said
4-20 has become a code for marijuana users. He said the number is
taken from a California criminal code dealing with marijuana. "Kids
buy necklaces and T-shirts and things with 4:20 on them," he said.

The code designates April 20 and 4:20 p.m. as a time to smoke
marijuana. Brown said some youngsters probably will hand out joints
at 4:20 this afternoon.

Marijuana is the leading problem drug among youngsters working their
way through Polk County Juvenile Court.

Juvenile Court handled 156 marijuana cases last year. That compares
with 51 alcohol cases, 19 methamphetamine cases and 13 cocaine cases.

Des Moines Police Sgt. William Hansen said that at least 47 students
have been sent to juvenile court from Des Moines schools this year
for marijuana possession or intent to distribute marijuana. That is
up from 39 last year.

Brown said: "The drug in the schools is marijuana, far and away. No
doubt about it. We see marijuana use going up. The age of users is
coming down."

He said 11- and 12-year-olds have ended up in treatment.

Janet Zwick, an executive with the Iowa Department of Public Health,
said a telephone survey in Iowa in 1999 showed that 5.5 percent of
12- to 17-year-olds had used marijuana within the previous month. Use
among 18- to 25-year-olds is 10.8 percent.

Tom Jeschke, executive director of students and family services with
Des Moines Schools, said not every student caught with marijuana is
expelled from school. "If there is a significant quantity, designed
for sale, that comes to me and goes to the board for consideration
for expulsion," he said.