ANTI-DRUG BILLBOARDS TO DRAW BLANK STARES

AUSTIN -- The Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse hopes some
empty space can say a lot about the dangers of marijuana use.

The agency announced a new billboard campaign last week aimed at young
Texans.

On one side of the billboard is a yellow memo that says, "We asked a
group of pot smokers to come up with something clever for this
billboard." An arrow on the memo points to the other side of the
billboard, which is blank.

"Through our school surveys, we've seen fewer teens who recognize the
dangers of marijuana," said James Oberwetter, chairman of the
commission. "We hope this media campaign encourages kids and their
parents to talk about the harmful effects of marijuana."

The billboards are up in San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi, El
Paso, Laredo and the Waco, Temple and Killeen areas, officials said.
Signs also are being placed in Austin.