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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                     SICHENZIA, ROSS, FRIEDMAN & FERENCE LLP
                                Attorneys At Law
                        135 West 50th Street, 20th Floor
                            New York, New York 10020
                              ---------------------

                            Telephone: (212) 664-1200
                            Facsimile: (212) 664-7329


                                                                   June 22, 2001

VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549

         RE:      EMPYREAN BIOSCIENCE, INC.
                  FORM SB-2 REGISTRATION STATEMENT (FILE NO. 333-____)
                  ----------------------------------------------------


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We refer to the above-captioned registration statement on Form SB-2
(the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), filed by Empyrean Bioscience, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         We have examined the originals, photocopies, certified copies or other
evidence of such records of the Company, certificates of officers of the Company
and public officials, and other documents as we have deemed relevant and
necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed. In such examination,
we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as certified copies or photocopies and the
authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.

         Based on our examination mentioned above, we are of the opinion that
the securities being sold pursuant to the Registration Statement are duly
authorized and will be, when issued in the manner described in the Registration
Statement, legally and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under "Legal Matters" in
the related Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not hereby admit
that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7
of the Act, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   Sichenzia, Ross, Friedman & Ference LLP