REBAGLIATI WARNS KIDS AGAINST MARIJUANA

The Whistler snowboarder, who came home to a hero's welcome Monday night,
says he won't smoke pot again.

Whistler's snowboarding gold medallist Ross Rebagliati says he won't smoke
pot again and warned children against smoking marijuana.

"I don't want to see kids think that they could smoke drugs and live a good
life," Rebagliati said early today after he arrived late Monday night at
Vancouver International Airport.

The 26-year-old snowboarder nearly lost his Olympic gold medal last week
after traces of marijuana were found in his urine. Rebagliati has said he
hasn't smoked since April but that he inhaled second-hand smoke at a recent
party.

Rebagliati told dozens of reporters from across Canada that he'd leave the
issue of legalizing pot up to politicians and wouldn't tell adults -- such
as his friends -- whether to smoke or not.

He doesn't think the publicity around the issue has hurt him, and maintains
Jay Leno invited him on The Tonight Show Monday night because he is the
first person to win a gold medal in snowboarding.

"I think any press is good press. I think good press is better than bad
press, but I don't think this has hurt much," he said.

Rebagliati maintains snowboarding was ready to become a full-fledged
Olympic sport without having a demonstration period. However, he said he
was not warned by officials that second-hand smoke is dangerous.

Rebagliati has hired an agent and has heard from companies, such as Nike,
that want him to endorse their products. There have even been acting
offers. So far he hasn't agreed to anything, he said.

"Everybody's interested," said the boarder who had no sponsors when he left
for Nagano.

Today he heads to his hometown of Whistler for a massive celebration, which
is expected to attract as many as 5,000 people. His goal for later this
year is to win the World Cup title in snowboarding.

Rebagliati's mother, Lynda Partone, greeted her son at the airport. The
jubilant mother said she never lost faith that her son would keep his
medal, but added if Rebagliati knew the danger of second-hand smoke he
would have taken extra precautions.

"Next time [athletes] go to the Olympics I hope they all know the rules and
dangers of second-hand smoke," Partone said, adding that she knew -- but
didn't approve -- that her son smoked pot until last April.

Dozens of Canadian flag-waving fans came to the airport to greet the new
hero. Monica Walker, 19, of West Vancouver said Rebagliati is a role model
for any Canadian. "Marijuana, which is not a performance-enhancing drug,
shouldn't have been an issue," she said.