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.