Pubdate: Sun, 15 Jul 2001 Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB) Copyright: 2001 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.canoe.ca/WinnipegSun/home.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503 Author: Wendy Stephenson, Business Editor Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) FLIN FLON MINES FUTURE; UNDERGROUND GROWER SEEDS FIRST CROP OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA Flin Flon Mayor Dennis Ballard says growing pot is only the beginning of what could turn into a "hell of an industry" for a one-industry, mining town like his. Last week, Prairie Plant Systems seeded its first crop of medicinal marijuana in an underground growing chamber, a mine shaft abandoned by Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co. "The pot's all well and good, but that's not really what this is all about," Ballard said. "We spend a lot of time and money on economic diversification. Any time you can bring in jobs, it's good." In setting up the underground grow operation, Saskatoon-based Prairie Plant Systems created 10 well-paid jobs -- primarily technicians -- but there's a potential to create more jobs by expanding on the concept, Ballard said. "You've got perfect conditions down there. You don't have to worry about the weather ruining your crops." A strong market exists for herbal medications, he said. Prairie Plant Systems is already involved in other grow operations, including yew trees for treating cancer. "The spot that's been selected can be expanded 10 times what it is now, and that's what we're hoping for." Prairie Plant Systems president Brent Zettl said over the past 12 years, his company has grown a couple thousand species of plants -- everything from Saskatoon berries to semi-aquatic plants to sweet basil and yew trees. "But there certainly have been a lot of challenges associated with growing this plant (marijuana)," Zettl said, chuckling. 'ARMCHAIR CRITICS' "We've had our share of armchair critics and advice on how to grow it." Health Canada awarded Prairie Plant Systems a five-year, $5.7-million contract to grow 185 kilograms of marijuana this year and about 450 kilograms every year after, Zettl said. "We're not privy to the exact sources (of the seed) provided by Health Canada." However, there are several different varieties, which will be tested every two weeks for the plant's active ingredients -- THC and four other cannabinoids. Indications are they can produce four crops per year, maybe more, with the first delivery by the end of 2001, he said. Although they've already planted, they're still finishing construction of the 12,000-square-foot underground concrete chamber, subdivided into a lab, growing area and processing/packaging facility. The project has brought a lot of attention to the town, which is great for tourism, he said, referring to a T-shirt boasting Flin Flon is the marijuana growing capital of Canada. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager