WHAT WOULD J.R. THINK?

Liver transplant recipient and recovering alcoholic Larry Hagman, a
featured speaker tomorrow at the National Association of Drug Court
Professionals conference, plans an impassioned message for the judges and
law enforcement types gathered at the Marriott Wardman Park.

"I think it's ridiculous to put young people or any people in jail for
nonviolent crimes - say, a first offense with marijuana - and have them
marked forever," the 70-year-old actor told us. "It costs a lot of money,
maybe $65,000, to keep them in jail for two years, but to get them into
rehabilitation, and actually help them, costs a helluva lot less."

Hagman, who has financed a video to advocate drug courts that stress
rehabilitation over punishment, added: "I think they should decriminalize
drugs like marijuana and make alcohol illegal." He said he also favors
legalized medicinal marijuana.

Best known for playing J.R., the charming villain in the hit series
"Dallas," Hagman said he has been doing "swell" in the seven years since
his cancerous liver was removed and replaced. "I got a great Puerto Rican
liver!" he crowed, referring to 1995 tabloid reports that identified his
donor, a car-accident victim. "You're not supposed to know who the donor
is. That's the policy. But about six months after the operation, I heard
from the mother of the victim asking for $10,000 to start a bumper sticker
company to advertise organ donations. I felt I couldn't respond, because
that might seem like I was paying for the organ. It's rather sad."