Any attempts to legalise marijuana should be stubbed out, Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Kim Young said yesterday.

And she blasted Government Senator Calvin Smith for suggesting that marijuana use was acceptable to increasing numbers -- and that a law that was not respected should be examined with the possibility of repeal.

But Ms Young said: "He really sent out a mixed message to the young people of Bermuda that the Government almost condones drugs.

"They should really be trying to convince youths and the young people who are taking drugs that it's a serious crime and it's against the law.'' And Ms Young insisted that -- rather than looking at loosening the law -- more money should be pumped into education about the dangers of drugs and catching the supply before it hits the streets.

But she added: "As long as people who are leaders in the community keep sending out these confusing messages people don't know where they stand on drugs -- and it suggests Government could be soft on drugs.'' Ms Young hit out after Sen. Smith said that most of the community did not regard marijuana use as a serious crime or dangerous -- and that the anti-drugs laws hit mostly young black people. He compared anti-marijuana laws to the US prohibition on alcohol -- which ended when the American government realised drinkers would not regard themselves as criminals.

But Sen. Smith -- who spoke out in the wake of a row over the links between drugs and sports clubs -- stressed no decision should be made before an Island-wide debate or even a Green Paper discussion document to look at the problem in depth.

Editorial: Page 4 PLP Senator taken to task Ms Young, however, said: "The UBP felt that they did not agree with legalising marijuana, never have and still don't.'' And she added that -- while alcohol was the cause of problems by itself -- the body could break it down, unlike some chemicals in marijuana, according to recent research. Ms Young -- a former practising nurse -- said: "There is a component in marijuana which is absorbed into the fatty tissue of the body and increases tolerance, which leads to people needing more to get high.

"This is why a lot of researchers and counsellors believe that people get into heavier drugs -- they call it a gateway drug.

"We have got to start at the beginning and stop people getting involved in any drugs.'' Ms Young added that drugs were acknowledged as the cause of most of the crime in Bermuda.

She said: "The whole Island and our quality of life suffers because of the use of illicit drugs.'' But Ms Young backed Sen. Smith on more discussion of drugs and their use in Bermuda.