MITCHELL CALLS FOR A BAN OF 'BLOW'

A new powdered beverage supplement called Blow, which could be on
Canadian shelves this summer, has Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell
calling for its ban from the Yukon.

On Thursday, the Copperbelt MLA urged the government to "undertake a
review of ways of preventing the controversial drink ... from being
sold in (the territory)."

Logan Gola, the founder of the Blow Energy Drink Mix, has dismissed
criticism his Las Vegas-based company is promoting cocaine use or
providing an alternative to illegal drugs.

The 240 milligrams of caffeine are sold as a white powder and packaged
with a mirror and a credit card. The product has raised the ire of
critics from across the country, which say the name - street slang for
cocaine - and its packaging are offensive and glorify drug use.

A visit to the Blow website (http://www.iloveblow.com), however,
suggests differently. It advertises the product as "pure uncut energy"
and features the trace of the logo in white powder, amongst several
scantily-clad women, with a nightclub party occurring in the background.

Vicki Durrant, executive director of the Blue Feather Youth Centre,
said today she had not seen the product but expressed concern at its
description and how it is marketed.

"I think we're dealing with a lot of vulnerable youth here and we
don't really want to be giving the kids mixed messages," Durrant said.

"We have a huge problem with drugs in the Yukon and I'm concerned with
anything that would promote (drug use) or suggest it's a healthy
lifestyle choice."