SMOKING GRASS ISN'T AS GROOVY AS SOME THINK

It's green, it's illegal, and lots of people in this country regard it as
harmless. But the truth about marijuana use doesn't smell as sweet as some
people believe.

For years now, pro-pot forces have gotten all lit up about marijuana laws
and how they do more harm than good. They scoff at the war on drugs as a
failure -- or worse, as counterproductive. They argue that prisons and
jails are crowded with prisoners whose sole crime is smoking grass. They
compare marijuana with other illicit drugs, and claim reefer is a painless
and innocuous drug compared with crack, heroin, Ecstasy or even alcohol and
tobacco.

The facts on marijuana, however, prove the drug has far more dangerous
effects than some people admit.

John Walters, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in
Washington, last week announced a new effort to "correct the ignorance
(about marijuana use) that is the single biggest obstacle to protecting our
kids."

Walters told parents that marijuana is the most addictive drug among teens
today. More teens enter rehab centers for marijuana addiction than alcohol
or all other illegal drugs combined, Walters said.

U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona also squashed another myth about
smoking weed. The misconception that marijuana is less dangerous than
cigarettes is false, he said. Marijuana contains three to five times more
tar and carbon monoxide than a comparable amount of tobacco. Carmona also
said pot affects the brain in ways similar to cocaine and heroin.

Carmona said one out of five eighth-graders has tried marijuana, twice as
many as those who had tried it a decade ago.

The pro-marijuana arguments should be of concern locally too. A recent teen
assets survey conducted among 14,000 teen-agers by HealthNet, a consortium
that includes the College of Southern Idaho, area hospitals and public
agencies, found 18 percent of kids in the region said they had smoked
marijuana in the past year.

In Blaine County, the number was 24 percent, one-quarter of the teen
population. Blaine County is arguably the most socially liberal county in
Idaho, so perhaps the numbers shouldn't be surprising -- despite the
obvious danger the trend represents to Blaine County youth.

But would it be too much for local political leaders to focus on this real
problem rather than battling over wolves and ranchers?

Magic Valley communities should be just as concerned as national officials
in getting the word out about marijuana. Unfortunately there are local
critics who continue to wail that marijuana laws are senseless --
especially after a Twin Falls elementary principal resigned following
marijuana possession charges.

It's time these folks got their heads out of the cloud of smoke. Marijuana
isn't about earthy goodness and humming "Puff the Magic Dragon." It's an
addictive drug and a threshold drug that leads users to other illicit
substances and greater addictions.

Until Americans start taking this jolly green giant seriously, marijuana
will wreak more havoc on our communities, our families and especially our kids.