CITY POLICE CHIEF LAUDS FUNDING FOR NEW NATIONAL DRUG STRATEGY

Police Chief Barry King hailed the announcement of $245 million for a
national substance abuse strategy Tuesday as the first of 1,850 kids raced
against drugs at the Brockville Memorial Centre.

King also praised doubling of penalties for people who grow pot in new
federal legislation decriminalizing possession of up to 15 grams of marijuana.

But the chairman of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse argued that
police officers need the discretion to keep charging people who have small
quantities of marijuana.

The legislation takes away the ability to charge people possessing small
quantities - including in cases with aggravating factors, such as use by
on-the-job police, bus drivers or pilots, King said.

He fears that an emergency service could no more fire a member for
possessing pot than for being ticketed for having open liquor in a public
park. Police will make that case to the justice committee.

"If any person is in a high-risk profession was doing it while they were
working - police, fire, ambulance - they've got to take serious measures,"
King said.

Ottawa will set aside an extra $245 million over the next five years to
beef up law enforcement and to pay for education, information, research and
treatment programs aimed at preventing drug use.

It's not everything drug fighters asked for but having more resources and
national leadership on the issue is a good start, King said.

The package also includes training for police to recognize drug-impaired
drivers and fills the "void" of information for youth about drugs as
Canada's pot laws were debated.

Cannabis is still a dangerous drug no one should use, King said.

The new money means more Canadian children will get age appropriate
messages about substance abuse - such as Racing Against Drugs.

"We don't want to see one person who has gone through this program have a
problem with substance abuse," the chief told several hundred students at
the Memorial Centre

"Is that a promise?"

"Yes!" the kids cheered.

Grade 5 and 6 students from Leeds, Grenville and Lanark will be racing
against drugs at the Memorial Centre all week.

The 25 pit stops include messages about drinking and driving and how drugs
affect health and judgment.

"Since car racing has a zero tolerance for substance abuse it is the
perfect theme for communicating this message to students," said Denise
Kall, who is leaving her post after five years as co-ordinator of the Safe
Community Coalition.

Jennifer Labelle, a paramedic with the Leeds and Grenville emergency
medical services, told the stories of two local teens who have died, in one
case "sniffing" and in the other mixing drugs and alcohol.

"One time could be the last time," she said.

Pineview Public School student Janica Roberts, 11, staggered as she tried
to walk a line in goggles that simulate being drunk with the help of
Constable Blake Jones of the CP Rail Police.

"It's really weird," she said. "You don't know where you're going. It looks
like the line is in a different spot than it really is."