COPS HOPE TO GET AN ANTI-MARIJUANA MESSAGE OUT TO LOCAL TEENS

Hamilton police say kids today are misinformed about the risks of using
marijuana and the lasting effects drug use may have on their lives.

Constable Frank Miscione, school resource officer for the Hamilton Police
Service, said he's doing what he can to get the message out to young people
that using marijuana should not be taken lightly.

"I always ask the students if they believe they can die from smoking
marijuana," said Const. Miscione. "Of course, they don't."

He said what students often don't give thought to is where the drugs they
are buying come from, before they get into the hands of their own dealer.

"When you're using an illegal drug, it's not coming from a source like the
drug store," he said. "You don't know where they're coming from. But usually
it's a large growing operation."

With that the case, Const. Miscione said it's very hard to tell what has
happened to drugs after they've changed hands a number of times. He said
often marijuana is laced with date rape drugs to create a certain effect,
leading the user to develop a physiological addiction, much stronger than
the psychological addiction common with illegal drugs.

"They create this physiological addiction and that means the dealer gets a
lot more business from these kids," Const. Miscione said. "We've seen drugs
laced with other things before."

Const. Miscione said the different chemicals laced within the drugs react
differently to each person, causing bodies to act in a certain way. Drugs
such as ketamine and GHB are often found in marijuana and can do unexpected
things to the body.

"The important message that came out of the Parkside incident is that you
may not think marijuana is that bad, but it's still illegal," said Const.
Miscione. "And the drugs that it may be laced with are often odourless,
colourless and tasteless. You won't know they're in there."

He said students need also to consider that these drugs are not being made
in a laboratory, where chemicals are checked and the environment is sterile.

"Ecstasy is made in clandestine labs and with that you really don't know
what you're taking," Const. Miscione said. "

While drug use among high school students is not necessarily on the rise,
what is more apparent is the nonchalant attitude being taken by students.

"The blatancy is bigger," Const. Miscione said. "Thirty years ago it was
still being done, but on weekends and at night, not as much during school
time or on school property."

He suggested a lot of the blatancy is due to the confusing laws surrounding
marijuana possession. Const. Miscione said "kids are misinformed" about the
legalities surrounding marijuana possession and use, which is why police
conduct random drug sweeps at every high school in Hamilton.

Students caught using illegal drugs will face disciplinary action on a
couple of levels.

"If the student is under 18, we must consider judicial measures under the
Youth Criminal Justice Act," said Const. Miscione. "There are five steps we
can take, ranging from unconditional release to being charged."

Jane Allison, public relations officer for the Hamilton-Wentworth District
School Board, said drug use or possession falls under the Safe Schools
Policy and the Code of Conduct set out by the province.

"There are different ways to suspend," Ms. Allison said.