PAPER: POT FOUND ON WHITNEY HOUSTON

KAILUAKONA, Hawaii - Whitney Houston was caught with 15.2 grams of
marijuana at an airport security checkpoint last week but boarded her
departing flight before police arrived, a newspaper reported Sunday.

The Tribune-Herald of Hilo, Hawaii said an airport security officer at
Keahole-Kona International Airport found the marijuana Tuesday after he
asked the Grammy-winning singer to open her bag for inspection.

The bag was seized, but the singer walked away when security officers tried
to detain her, said Police Lt. Robert Hickcox. Houston's United Airlines
flight to San Francisco departed 45 minutes before police arrived, Hickcox
said. Airport security officers, employed by a private company, can only
arrest passengers for crimes related to airport security. The firm,
Wackenhut of Hawaii, declined comment to The Associated Press on Sunday night.

An answering service for Houston's spokeswoman, Carol Stone, said Stone was
out of the country and could not immediately be reached for comment. A
message left with her answering service was not immediately returned on
Sunday night to The Associated Press.

According to the newspaper, the Hawaii County Police Department's daily
police bulletin noted 15.2 grams of marijuana was recovered at the airport
at 2:28 p.m. on Tuesday, but did not identify a suspect.

Police planned to refer the case to the Hawaii County prosecutor's office,
a process that could take a month, Hickcox told the newspaper.

Police declined to comment to the AP late Sunday.

Officials at Arista Records, Houston's record label, could not be reached
for comment in either Los Angeles or New York on Sunday night.

Possession of 15 grams of marijuana could lead to a drug charge of
promotion of a detrimental drug, Hickcox said. The petty misdemeanor is
punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Houston has sold millions of records is one of the world's most successful
recording artists. She has also starred in such films as "The Bodyguard"
and "Waiting to Exhale."

She was nominated this month for four Grammy awards for her latest album,
"My Love is Your Love."