OPIUM POPPY RESEARCHER GOES UNDERGROUND

CP - A leading University of Calgary expert on the opium poppy is
joining marijuana researchers underground in Flin Flon with the hope
of finding new uses for heroin and pot.

Peter Facchini, a professor of biological sciences, has received a
$650,000 federal grant to study possible medicinal and industrial
purposes for the drugs.

Facchini's work is taking him deep underground to Canada's
high-security medicinal marijuana plant in an old copper and zinc
mine in Flin Flon, Man.

That's where Prairie Plant Systems of Saskatoon produces medicinal
marijuana for Health Canada.

Facchini says opium poppies contain morphine and codeine, used in
many drugs, while cannabis is a good source of high-quality fibre and oil.

He says both plants have immense potential as sources of high-value
bioproducts for the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors.