Keith Mack
Papaver somniferum, commonly known as the opium poppy or breadseed poppy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae. It is the species of plant from which both opium and poppy seeds are derived. Opium poppy is cultivated for legitimate pharmaceutical purposes in 14 countries around the world, and opiate raw materials are sold and transported internationally. In Canada, opium poppy and its preparations, derivatives, alkaloids and salts are controlled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Any activity involving opium poppy and the opiates derived from these plants must follow the requirements set out in the CDSA and the Narcotic Control Regulations (NCR).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Plant | Papaver Somniferum |
| Common Name | Opium Poppy |
| Controlled Under | Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) |
| Narcotic Substances Derived | Morphine, Oxycodone |
| Commercial Cultivation | Not Happening in Canada |
| Opium Poppy Cultivation | 14 Countries |
| Opium Poppy Cultivation Locations | Australia, Spain, France, Turkey, India |
| Opium Poppy Cultivation Output | 90% of Global Demand |
| Isolation from Other Papaver Species | Minimum 20 Metres |
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What You'll Learn
Opium poppy cultivation is forbidden in Canada
Opium poppy, or Papaver somniferum, is a flowering plant species in the family Papaveraceae. It is the plant from which opium and poppy seeds are derived. Opium poppy is cultivated for legitimate pharmaceutical purposes in 14 countries worldwide, including Australia, Spain, France, Turkey, and India, which together supply 90% of the global demand for naturally derived opiate medications.
Canada forbids possessing, seeking, or obtaining opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), its preparations, derivatives, alkaloids, and salts. Opium poppy cultivation is forbidden in Canada. Opium poppy and its related substances are controlled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and the Narcotic Control Regulations (NCR). These laws enable Canada to meet its obligations under international drug control treaties.
The opium poppy plant has a long history of use, dating back to the Neolithic period. It has been cultivated for its edible seeds and oil, as well as for opium production. The plant is grown as an agricultural crop on a large scale, and selective breeding has resulted in varieties that produce no opium at all.
In Canada, there is currently no commercial cultivation of opium poppy. All opioid-based pharmaceuticals sold in the country are either imported as finished dosage forms or manufactured domestically from imported active pharmaceutical ingredients. While research field trials of opium poppy may be conducted in Canada, they must adhere to strict isolation requirements from other Papaver species, such as the alpine poppy and dwarf alpine poppy.
The prohibition of opium poppy cultivation in Canada is part of a broader effort to prevent the diversion of opioid materials from legal channels to the illicit market. The country's regulations aim to balance the legitimate use of opium poppy in the pharmaceutical industry with the need to control and monitor its cultivation and distribution.
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Opium poppy is cultivated for legitimate pharmaceutical purposes in 14 countries
Opium poppy, or Papaver somniferum, is a flowering plant species that is the source of both opium and poppy seeds. It has been used since ancient times, with the earliest reference to its cultivation dating back to 3,400 BC in Mesopotamia. Over time, its cultivation spread along the Silk Road from the Mediterranean to Asia and eventually played a role in the Opium Wars of the mid-1800s. Today, opium poppy is cultivated for legitimate pharmaceutical purposes in 14 countries, including Australia, Spain, France, Turkey, and India, which together supply 90% of the global demand for naturally derived opiate medications.
In Canada, the possession, seeking, or obtaining of opium poppy and its derivatives is prohibited under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). However, there is no commercial cultivation of opium poppy taking place within the country. Instead, opioid-based pharmaceuticals sold in Canada are imported as finished dosage forms or manufactured domestically from active pharmaceutical ingredients sourced from other countries.
The opium poppy is grown for its narcotic ingredients, which are used in legal pharmaceutical painkillers such as morphine and oxycodone. The legitimate opiate industry extracts these substances from the plant material and purifies them through a multi-step process to obtain pharmaceutical-grade ingredients. However, there is a risk of diversion of opioid material from legal channels to the illicit market at each stage, from cultivation to processing.
The cultivation of opium poppy for pharmaceutical purposes must navigate the conflicting demands of the food and medical industries. The food industry requires poppy varieties with low alkaloid content, while the medical industry needs varieties with high alkaloid content for effective medications. This has resulted in the development of breeds specifically targeted at each industry, with ongoing breeding efforts to meet their respective needs.
The global demand for alkaloids and pharmaceutical derivatives has been increasing, necessitating the development of opium poppy varieties with higher opium yields. This demand has led to impoverished farmers in remote regions, particularly in countries like Burma, Afghanistan, and Colombia, cultivating opium poppy for illegal purposes, contributing to the global illegal drug trade.
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Opium poppy is a source of many alkaloids
In Canada, the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and its preparations, derivatives, alkaloids, and salts are controlled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Opium poppy is a source of many alkaloids, including morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine, and noscapine. Morphine is the main alkaloid present in opium, comprising approximately 12% of its composition. It is a powerful analgesic that acts on μ-opioid receptors and is processed chemically to produce heroin and other synthetic opioids for medicinal use and the illegal drug trade. The opium poppy is cultivated for the pharmaceutical industry, and its seeds are a by-product used in the food industry.
The demand for alkaloids and pharmaceutical derivatives has increased in recent years, leading to a need for the development of varieties with higher opium yields. Opium poppy cultivation is currently taking place in 14 countries worldwide, with Australia, Spain, France, Turkey, and India supplying 90% of the global demand for naturally derived opiate medications. In the United Kingdom, a pharmaceutical company cultivates opium poppy for use in domestic medicines. The British government has permitted the cultivation of opium poppies in England for medicinal reasons, recognizing the high demand for morphine in the National Health Service (NHS).
The harvesting methods and timing significantly impact the alkaloid levels in the final opium product. If harvested too early, the product is watery, while harvesting too late results in lower alkaloid content. Washing and pre-treating the seeds can reduce morphine levels by up to 90%. Thermal processing, such as baking, also reduces the levels of alkaloids in the poppy seeds.
The opium poppy has a long history of use, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq and Kuwait) around 5000 BCE. It was widely used for food, medicine, rituals, and as a painkiller in ancient civilizations, including Greece, Egypt, and Islamic societies. Through selective breeding, the content of phenanthrene alkaloids like morphine, codeine, and thebaine has been significantly increased over time. Today, the two main legitimate uses of the opium poppy are as a source of alkaloid compounds for pharmaceuticals and as a source of poppy seeds for food.
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Poppy seeds can become contaminated with opiates during harvesting
In Canada, the possession, seeking, or obtaining of Papaver somniferum, commonly known as the opium poppy or breadseed poppy, and its preparations, derivatives, alkaloids, and salts are prohibited under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and the Narcotic Control Regulations (NCR). Opium poppy is cultivated for pharmaceutical purposes in several countries, and Canada ensures compliance with international drug control treaties through the CDSA and NCR.
Poppy seeds themselves do not inherently contain opiates, but during the harvesting process, they can become contaminated with opiates present in the milky latex of the seed pod covering. The poppy plant's opiate profile, influenced by factors such as climate, soil, sunlight exposure, and time of harvest, determines the opiate concentrations in the seeds. The variation in alkaloid levels between different batches of poppy seeds can be attributed to the combination of multiple fields in a single country, each with unique growing conditions.
The potential for poppy seeds to cause positive opiate drug test results, particularly for morphine and codeine, has been documented. Drug tests are highly sensitive, and consuming certain poppy seed food products can lead to positive urine, blood, and oral fluid test results. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established an acute reference dose of 10 μg morphine/kg of body weight as a safe level for morphine in food products. However, it is challenging to determine which food products may contain higher opiate concentrations, as this information is generally not disclosed on food labels.
The U.S. Defense Department issued a memo in February 2023, warning service members to refrain from consuming poppy seeds to avoid potential positive urine drug test results. While poppy seeds do not contain sufficient opiates to cause intoxication, the military considers any detectable presence of opiates in urine as a positive test result, which can have serious consequences for service members.
It is worth noting that the laws regarding Papaver somniferum cultivation and opium poppy usage have evolved over time, with historical references to the Opium Poppy Control Act and conflicts between state and federal authorities in the United States. The current legal landscape in Canada focuses on prohibiting the possession and related activities involving opium poppy and its derivatives, while ensuring compliance with international drug control treaties.
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Papaver somniferum is a very well-known plant species
Papaver somniferum, commonly known as the opium poppy or breadseed poppy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae. It was first described by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The plant is native to the eastern Mediterranean region but has since been introduced and cultivated across the world, particularly in regions with temperate climates.
Papaver somniferum has a long history of use, dating back to the Neolithic period. It is widely known for its role in the production of opium, a powerful narcotic with various therapeutic applications, including pain treatment, cough suppression, diarrhoea alleviation, and anaesthesia. The opium derived from Papaver somniferum is also processed into pharmaceutical drugs such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. Additionally, the plant is a source of poppy seeds used in cooking and baking.
The cultivation and use of Papaver somniferum are carefully regulated due to the potential for misuse and addiction associated with opium and its derivatives, including morphine, codeine, and heroin. In Canada, for example, the possession, seeking, or obtaining of Papaver somniferum and its derivatives are prohibited under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and the Narcotic Control Regulations (NCR).
Papaver somniferum is an annual herb that grows up to 100 centimetres (40 inches) tall. It has a greyish-green appearance due to its strongly glaucous nature. The leaves are large and lobed, with the upper leaves clasping the stem and the lowest leaves having short petioles. The flowers of Papaver somniferum come in a range of colours, including white, mauve, or red, sometimes with dark markings at the base. The fruit is a hairless, rounded capsule with radiating stigmatic rays.
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Frequently asked questions
Papaver Somniferum, commonly known as the opium poppy or breadseed poppy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae.
In Canada, Papaver Somniferum and its preparations, derivatives, alkaloids, and salts are controlled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Any activity involving the opium poppy and the opiates derived from these plants must follow the requirements set out in the CDSA and the Narcotic Control Regulations (NCR).
The laws and requirements outlined in the CDSA and NCR allow Canada to meet its obligations under international drug control treaties. Opium poppy-based pharmaceuticals sold in Canada are either imported as finished dosage forms or manufactured domestically from imported active pharmaceutical ingredients. The finished products manufactured in Canada can be sold domestically or exported, but activities such as importation, manufacture, and sale must comply with the NCR.
Although Canada forbids possessing, seeking, or obtaining Papaver Somniferum, there may be exceptions for research or confined field trials. For example, the Canada Commons website mentions the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM), which offers a national clinical practice guideline for managing opioid use disorder (OUD).
