AGENCY WARNS OF MARIJUANA RISKS

WASHINGTON - The nation's drug policy director warned parents Tuesday
against trivializing the dangers of marijuana to their children, warning
them that more teens are addicted to pot than to alcohol or to all other
illegal drugs combined.

Many parents and children have outdated perceptions about marijuana, said
John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. They
believe marijuana is not addictive, that it is less dangerous than
cigarettes or that it has few long-term health consequences.

In reality, more teens enter rehabilitation centers to treat marijuana
addiction than alcohol or all other illegal drugs combined, Walters said.

"Our effort is to correct the ignorance that is the single biggest obstacle
to protecting our kids," he said as he announced an advertising campaign by
his office and 17 education, public health, anti-drug and family advocacy
groups.

The national effort will include advertisements on television, radio and
print media, along with ones that will air in NFL stadiums and inside game
programs.

Some people think smoking marijuana is less dangerous than smoking a
cigarette, said Surgeon General Richard Carmona. But marijuana contains
three to five times more tar and carbon monoxide than a comparable amount
of tobacco, he said.

Carmona said one out of five eighth-graders has tried marijuana - twice as
many as a decade ago.

"Marijuana is not a rite of passage but a dangerous behavior that could
have serious health consequences. Parents must realize that what they tell
their children about drug use makes a difference," Carmona said.