DOES POT MAKE YOU DUMB?

Thumbs Up & Thumbs Down.

- --Thumbs down to less than clear thinking. Last week, Patrick Casey, 23, of
Helena, was in court being tried on misdemeanor drug charges when officers
outside were investigating a backpack that had been left in the courthouse
hallway. They found marijuana inside, but had no idea to whom the backpack
belonged. That's when Casey came out of the courtroom and claimed the
backpack as his own. Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, Jeff Fawcett and
Nicole Peterson of 6005 Highway 12 East called 911 to report that someone
had broken in, duct-taped them and ransacked the house. Arriving officers
didn't find the assailant, but they did find the couples' alleged
marijuana-growing operation.

- --Thumbs up to the volunteers who completed the Crow Creek Falls clean-up
Sunday evening. The area now is open to hikers, and soon will be sold to
the Helena National Forest. The clean-up was a huge undertaking that
conservationists and miners carried out at no taxpayer expense. Great work!

- --Thumbs down to some disturbing news about the homeless in Montana. Most
of us think of the homeless as transient types or people suffering from
mental illness. But according to state survey, more than 60 percent of them
are families with children. For the most part, the homeless aren't
strangers in the community, but long-time residents.

- --Thumbs up to legislators for setting a new speed record last week. The
lawmakers, meeting in special session yet again to fix an affective-date
omission in House Bill 2, managed to get the job done and adjourn after
only 56 minutes. We were glad to see the session give the bill its needed
quick fix without vainly trying to do any more.