COUNCIL SUPPORTS POPPY PLAN

City Businessman Wants To Grow Poppies To Reduce Reliance On Imports
Of Medicinal Drugs

A Lethbridge businessman hoping to bring poppy farming to Canada has
received enthusiastic support from the city. "I have a lot of
enthusiasm for this project," Mayor Bob Tarleck said earlier this
week when Glen Metzler asked council for its support.

Tarleck said the new crop would decrease the amount of medicinal
drugs Canada must import and increase jobs locally. And while he is
concerned poppies could "get in the hands of bike gangs and organized
crime," he said security issues would be addressed by government authorities.

Metzler, of Metzler Trading Company, assured council the poppies he
wants farmers to grow in Canada and southern Alberta are not easily
converted into heroin by the average person. He said it would take
someone with a multi-million-dollar lab and a doctorate in pharmaceuticology.

Instead, the poppies would be processed into codeine and oxycodone
for the Canadian pharmaceutical industry. Oxycodone is an analgesic
medication synthesized from thebaine and used to relieve pain.
Metzler said the poppy that would be grown in Canada is
thebaine-based, which is the precursor to opiates found in traditional poppies.

Health Canada has so far refused to approve an application to start
field trials in the Lethbridge area because it's illegal to grow or
cultivate poppy varieties outside a laboratory. He said Dr. Peter
Facchini at the University of Calgary, a world leader in opium poppy
research, supports growing poppies in Canada. Metzler hopes once he
has enough support from municipal and government leaders - the
province has given its support in principle - Health Canada will
approve poppy production.

Metzler noted Australia was able to come up with appropriate
regulations to ensure the poppy crop isn't diverted into the drug trade.

Based on a study of Australia's poppy industry, growing poppies in
southern Alberta could create more than 100 jobs and generate more
than $100 million annually. While Canadian farmers are paid about
$850 US per hectare for wheat and barley, poppy farmers in Australia
are paid between $3,000 and $6,000 US.

Canada will import an estimated 27,650 kilograms of codeine, 3,500
kilograms of morphine and 4,000 kilograms of oxycodone in 2007, worth
more than $100 million. Metzler said Canada is the largest importer
codeine and the second-largest importer of oxycodone in the world.

Although council expressed some concerns about growing poppies in
southern Alberta, including the possible decline in food production
by local farmers who switch to poppy farming, it still unanimously
gave its support. Tarleck will also write a letter of support and
send it to Federal Health Minister Tony Clement.

"I think it's a unique opportunity," said Ald. Barbara Lacey. "It's
not going to be difficult to market this stuff."

In addition to Metzler's work, API Labs Ltd. has been established in
southern Alberta to drive the poppy initiative. Other partners
include the U of C and the St. Mary River Irrigation District.