Pubdate: Tue, 19 Nov 2002
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2002 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Paul Samyn

FLIN FLON-GROWN POT NOT BURNED AS REPORTED

OTTAWA -- The first batch of medicinal marijuana grown in a Flin Flon mine 
was not destroyed by burning as reported, Health Canada said yesterday.

Farah Mohamed, a spokeswoman for Health Minister Anne McLellan, said her 
minister was misquoted in La Presse and the newspaper will run a correction.

"She never said burned," Mohamed said. La Presse quoted McLellan saying the 
entire crop was burned because it was uneven.

Mohamed said the first crop is being used to develop research grade 
marijuana and determine its chemical profile.

A small amount of the pot was destroyed because it contained spores and 
fungus but Mohamed said the first batch produced was helpful to the federal 
program.

Prairie Plant Systems has a five-year, $5-million contact to grow the 
marijuana for Health Canada in an abandoned mine in Flin Flon. Mohamed said 
a second crop grown in Flin Flon is being tested and hopefully will lead to 
clinical trials.
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