Pubdate: Thu, 08 Feb 2001
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2001 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.canoe.ca/WinnipegSun/home.html
Author: Frank Landry

ONE MERRY MINER

Shirt Sells Flin Flon As Grow-Op Capital

Flin Flon is buzzing over a T-shirt that proclaims the community is 
Canada's marijuana growing capital.

Chris Pilz has sold 200 of the tees since he began stocking them in his 
novelty store last week -- his entire stock. He has another 200 on order, 
and expects that won't be enough to meet demand.

"It's been quite overwhelming," said Pilz yesterday. He designed the tee 
with the help of a friend. They are available only at Flin Flon's Zig Zag 
Zone, which Pilz, 39, runs with his wife

"I'm taking names and numbers and it's filling up fast. I must have taken 
two dozen names today," Pilz told The Sun.

The shirts (left) feature a drawing of a miner pushing a cart brimming with 
ganja. In the background is a joint-like smelter stack. In the smoke it 
says: High ho, high ho, it's off to work we grow.

Ottawa is paying Prairie Plant System $5.8 million to harvest premium pot 
for five years in Flin Flon. The weed -- to be used for medicinal purposes 
- -- will be grown in underground mine shafts.

Most Flin Flon residents are getting a kick out of the humorous tees, said 
Mayor Dennis Ballard. Asked if the community is, in fact, the country's 
sweet leaf capital, Ballard said that's what he hears.

"I suppose it may very well be," the mayor said with a chuckle. "It sounds 
good to me."

The Health Canada project will create at least 10 jobs in Flin Flon, and 
there are endless possibilities for expansion, Ballard said. But Ron 
Dobson, a Flin Flon resident, said the shirts may be giving kids the wrong 
message -- that it's OK to spark up a spliff.

Health Canada should educate teens on the dangers of weed, and explain its 
medicinal uses, he said.

"They (Health Canada) dumped this into our community and put added pressure 
on our young people," Dobson said.

Pilz said he isn't promoting illegal drugs, but tourism.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart