ALBERTA OPIUM FIELDS EYED

A group of Alberta farmers hope to get the green light to grow opium
poppies in southern parts of the province.

Metzler Trading Company Ltd. in Lethbridge has reportedly written to
the provincial and federal agriculture ministers to ask they allow
opium poppy production in Canada for pharmaceutical use.

They have also made the pitch to Health Canada officials to start
field trials in the Lethbridge area.

It would be the first such operation in the country.

Health Canada spokesman Jason Bouzanis told the Sun there are no
regulations to allow for the cultivation or production of opium for
pharmaceutical purposes.

Although opium poppies are known for being associated with the
production of heroin and the illegal drug trade, they can be used in
codeine and other painkillers.