ANDY'S 'GRASS' ROOTS

Andrew Cuomo yesterday admitted that he and Gov. Pataki have at least one
thing in common: They've both smoked pot.

"I have tried marijuana in my youth," Cuomo said at a press conference in
East Harlem after he called for reforming the Rockefeller-era drug laws.

"I wouldn't characterize my feeling about it - but I tried it in my youth,"
said Cuomo, who added that pot was the only illegal drug he'd ever tried.

Cuomo's Democratic rival for governor, Carl McCall, yesterday ducked a
question from a reporter who asked if he's ever smoked marijuana.

After getting endorsed by Council 1707 - which represents 30,000 health
care workers - McCall jokingly asked members of the crowd to raise their
hands if they ever tried marijuana.

"Would you care whether somebody smoked pot or not? Would that matter to
you?" he asked the union members.

"No, no!" the audience responded.