on television and drug education lessons in school, say two teenagers who have been smoking marijuana since the age of 14.

But they said the ads and education are working when it comes to cocaine and other harder drugs.

The two unemployed 19-year-olds scoffed at the popular television ad that warns marijuana will fry their brains.

They said they and their friends had "never seen any evidence marijuana is harmful''.

However, they said they had seen the "horrible'' effects of alcohol and cocaine abuse on many in their West End neighbourhood. And they said they will not smoke cigarettes because "they cause cancer''.

The two youngsters spoke to The Royal Gazette on condition their names were not used.

Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness yesterday attested to what the teenagers said, saying he has spoken to many young people who do not believe marijuana is harmful.

He said he is worried about widespread use of marijuana by Bermuda's youngsters and believes the message the drug is harmful "is just not getting through to them''.

"A major part of the problem is not enough parents are talking to their kids about the dangers of marijuana and other drugs,'' he said.

Mr. Edness is so concerned about marijuana being the "drug of choice'' of young people, his Ministry has taken steps to put out more information about it and other drugs.

He said the reason many young people do not believe marijuana is harmful may be because its effects are not immediately noticeable.

"It's a slow gradual process which makes one lazy and not want to get up in the morning,'' he said. "They become more and more lethargic and some will want to graduate to another drug when it no longer becomes a stimulant.'' He said stockpiling of the drug's chemicals in a user's body can eventually lead to diseases such as cancer and cause heart attacks.

But the teenagers said they know a healthy 50-year-old man with a family and a good job who smokes marijuana regularly.

They also rejected the belief that marijuana use leads to experimenting with cocaine, heroin and other drugs.

"That's not true,'' one said. "It depends on the individual. A weak-minded person or anyone can go that way. Some even start with cocaine first.'' They charged more attention should be paid to the ills of "the legal substances'' -- alcohol and cigarettes.

"There are more alcoholics on this Island than drug addicts,'' one said. The two teenagers said they started smoking marijuana because "it's always around'' and they were "curious''.

They said they never pay for it because they know where several marijuana plants are growing -- "deep in the bushes''.

One said he smoked marijuana mostly on weekends while in high school and "many times'' in the trees on school grounds or nearby during his lunch break.

Since graduating, both said they do it a "little more'' and "whenever''.

They claimed they are not addicted to marijuana and have stopped smoking it for as long as a year at a time because they were "not in the mood''.

One said: "We have not tried cocaine. I've seen what it does to others. Guys doing coke don't even go to sleep or eat. They just stay home. It ruins your nervous system.

"When you are drunk or on coke you'll do anything. I've seen it (alcohol) make a quiet person turn crazy.

"But marijuana relaxes you. You think of all different things when you're red. You feel safe. Weed is not a problem. It doesn't hurt you.'' The teenagers said cocaine use is frowned upon in their circle of friends.

One said if someone does coke in front of him he will "beat him up''.

He said not all of his friends smoke weed because "some don't choose to''.