FATHER'S POT USE IRKS OPP WHO COACHED SON

Hockey Organizers Ask Dad to Move Boy to Another Team to Avoid Showdown

A nine-year-old boy has switched hockey teams over fears of potential
dressing-room hostilities involving his father, who uses marijuana for
medical purposes, and his coaches, who are members of the Ontario
Provincial Police.

Nicolas Neron of Hearst, a town of 1,000 in Northern Ontario, had been
selected in a blind draft to play for a team sponsored by a committee that
runs the local Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program. D.A.R.E.
is an Ontario-wide initiative used by police to alert children to the
dangers of illegal drugs.

Noel Cantin, the head of the Hearst Minor Hockey Association, said
yesterday that he and other association board members persuaded Nicolas's
dad, Robert Neron, that a change of teams was the only reasonable course of
action.

The board "asked Mr. Neron to make the right decision for his son. And
that's when he came back and said 'OK, I'll move,' " said Mr. Cantin.
"That's what we emphasized during the meeting -- 'You're not going to only
punish your kid but 15 other kids on that team.' "

Mr. Neron could not be reached for comment.

The D.A.R.E. team is coached by OPP officers whose sons are also players.
The head coach, Constable Mario Hautcoeur, thought he spotted trouble when
Mr. Neron arrived in the dressing room to lace up his son's skates.

Mr. Neron was granted an exemption in July, 2001, to federal laws
prohibiting marijuana use after arguing that it relieves the chronic pain
and other symptoms caused by an industrial accident five years ago. He has
been a vocal advocate for the legalization of the drug and protested
outside city hall when the Hearst council refused his request to hold a
Cannabis Day.

Mr. Neron was charged with possession of marijuana two years ago but the
charges were withdrawn when the exemption was granted. Even so, his
relationship with the police has remained rocky. He was recently arrested
for a seat-belt violation and, when he complained to the police, he was
charged with disturbing the peace and a weapons infraction.

When Constable Hautcoeur warned the local hockey association that the
animosity that existed among police officers and Mr. Neron could erupt in
the dressing room, he was told to suggest to Mr. Neron that he remain in
the stands while his son was getting changed.

Far from acquiescing, Mr. Neron was incensed. He rejected Constable
Hautcoeur's suggestion, saying he is not the type of father who leaves his
son at the dressing-room door. But, after meeting with the hockey
association, he agreed to switch his son to the other team in the same
division.

Acting Staff Sergeant Grant Ayres, the commander of the Hearst detachment,
stressed yesterday that the decision to keep Mr. Neron out of the dressing
room was not made by the police.

"This is a decision made by minor hockey that [Constable Hautcoeur] was
asked to discuss with the parent. When he did that -- discussing minor
hockey's request -- Mr. Neron took it to be the officer's request," said
Sgt. Ayres.

In hindsight, he said, it would have been better for the request to have
come directly from the association.

But, said Sgt. Ayres, "there is definitely animosity" between the police
and Mr. Neron over his marijuana advocacy.

"Now it's much more appealing for him to say it's police against his son.
The officer in question had no problem with coaching his son," said Sgt.
Ayres. "In Hearst it's very difficult to get publicity for your purposes.
We're not the centre of the world. This suits his needs quite well."

Mr. Cantin agreed that Mr. Neron is well known in Hearst as a marijuana
advocate. "Loud would be a proper way of describing it," he said.

But the conflict, he said, has been resolved.

"It had nothing to do with the kid but unfortunately the kid was stuck in
there, as usual," said Mr. Cantin.

"It's the way with minor hockey, it's never the kids that are giving you a
hard time, it's always the parents."