Pubdate: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 1999 Houston Chronicle Contact: http://www.chron.com/ Forum: http://www.chron.com/content/hcitalk/index.html Page: 2E ANTI-DRUG BILLBOARDS TO DRAW BLANK STARES AUSTIN -- The Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse hopes some empty space can say a lot about the dangers of marijuana use. The agency announced a new billboard campaign last week aimed at young Texans. On one side of the billboard is a yellow memo that says, "We asked a group of pot smokers to come up with something clever for this billboard." An arrow on the memo points to the other side of the billboard, which is blank. "Through our school surveys, we've seen fewer teens who recognize the dangers of marijuana," said James Oberwetter, chairman of the commission. "We hope this media campaign encourages kids and their parents to talk about the harmful effects of marijuana." The billboards are up in San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Laredo and the Waco, Temple and Killeen areas, officials said. Signs also are being placed in Austin. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea