POT SPRAY WON'T HURT MARIJUANA MINE, SAYS GROWER

Ottawa's approval of a cannabis-derived prescription spray from
Britain won't cut into Flin Flon's share of the medicinal marijuana
market, says the head of the grower.

The green lighting of Sativex, sometimes referred to as "liquid
marijuana," generated concern about a possible impact on the federal
government's pot program, which relies on weed securely grown in the
Trout Lake mine.

But Brent Zettl, president and CEO of Prairie Plant Systems, which
operates the subterranean greenhouse, believes Sativex is a positive
step forward for medicinal marijuana as a whole.

"I think the marketplace for marijuana-based medicines is going to be
fairly large," he said from his Saskatoon office. "I think there's
going to be room for more than one player, and if there is any amount
of success on the part of Sativex, I think it only adds credibility
to what we're doing in Flin Flon."

Sativex, Zettl suggested, should not be considered direct competition
because it is designed principally for people with multiple
sclerosis. The Flin Flon product, meanwhile, serves a wide variety of
patients, including those with AIDS and cancer.

The application of the medicines also differs. Patients use the
traditional method of smoking for Zettl's pot, while Sativex is
sprayed under the tongue or on the inside of the cheek from a dispenser.

The one concern Zettl does have about Sativex is that if it proves
unsatisfactory to patients, "it will reflect not as well on the
development" of the medicinal marijuana industry.

At this point, however, he sees no net impact on the Flin Flon operation.

What may have had some impact, at least in terms of public
perception, are national newspaper reports that in recent years have
questioned the quality of the underground weed.

In those Canadian Press articles, some authorized users complained
the product was weak, made them nauseous or was otherwise unsuitable
for its intended purpose.

Zettl feels those stories were driven primarily by individuals who
peddle marijuana to compassion clubs, organizations in cities that
sell pot to the sick.

"They have taken the position of trying to, shall we say, undermine
the government's product," he said. "And it's easy to see why. It's
primarily because it's all about market share. They're feeling
threatened by the appearance of government-produced material, and
philosophically they just oppose the government having anything to do
with marijuana production.

"The government material is at half price. The only thing they can do
is try to defame and discredit the program."

Despite unfavorable comments from a few patients, Zettl said the Flin
Flon weed, although not perfected, is now returned by under two per
cent of patients.

"So if the return rate is less than two per cent, then who's making
all the complaints?" he asked.