POP DIVA BAGGED FOR POT

HONOLULU -- Authorities are weighing whether to file drug charges against
pop star Whitney Houston, who allegedly was found with half an ounce of
marijuana at an airport security checkpoint but boarded her flight before
police arrived.

Hawaii County Prosecutor Jay Kimura said he would wait for the results of a
police investigation before deciding whether to charge the 36-year-old
singer.

He said the most likely charge would be promoting a detrimental drug, an
offence punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 US fine.

Kimura said his office typically does not pursue mainland suspects who are
charged with petty misdemeanours such as marijuana possession.

But he said Houston could be served with a summons if she returns to the
islands and could be arrested if she ignores the summons.

Houston was stopped Jan. 11 at a security checkpoint at Keahole-Kona
International Airport while on her way to board a United Airlines flight to
San Francisco. The airport is on the island of Hawaii, 270 kilometres
southeast of Honolulu.

During a search of her bag, a security officer allegedly found the
marijuana and seized the bag. Airport security officers, who can only
arrest passengers for crimes related to airport security, told her to stay
with them until police arrived, police said.

But Houston left to board her flight, which took off about a half hour
before police arrived, Big Island police representative William Donham said
yesterday. Her husband, Bobby Brown, was travelling with her, the Hawaii
Tribune-Herald of Hilo reported.

After San Francisco, Houston was heading to her East Coast home to prepare
for a trip to Europe last night or today. Although she was one of the
leading nominees at last night's American Music Awards in Los Angeles,
Houston wasn't scheduled to perform or attend the ceremony.

Donham said officers didn't treat the situation any differently because it
involved a celebrity. He noted the airport is eight kilometres from the
nearest police station and the amount of marijuana allegedly found was
relatively small.

"I would imagine that they were busy," he said. "It's not a major crime. I
don't think you realize how much dope does go through this island. We're
one of the major growing areas in the country."

Houston and Brown have had run-ins with Hawaiian authorities before.

In 1997, Honolulu police investigated a report that Brown slapped Houston
in the face during a quarrel in a mall parking lot. Police said they closed
the investigation after Houston refused to co-operate.

That same year, Brown threw a punch at a Maui bar patron who had reached
out for Houston. Brown missed and instead hit a county liquor control
inspector in the ribs.