Dangers of poppies
Illegal use of poppies to create poppy tea, tar or gum is life-threatening.
The narcotic content of the poppy plant demands strict domestic and international controls.
Morphine is a naturally occurring substance in the opium poppy. It is a potent narcotic and its main medicinal use is in the management of moderately severe and severe pain.
Morphine has the greatest dependence liability of the narcotic analgesics in common use.
Poppies are now being bred with higher levels of morphine, codeine and thebaine in them and because they all look the same, it is impossible to predict the reaction they will give if taken.
This makes the chances of an overdose much greater. Studies show that thebaine is an extremely toxic substance.
Restricted Access
Trespassing on poppy fields and the possession of poppies and poppy products is illegal and there are substantial penalties for offenders.
Access to poppy fields is restricted to all persons other than those authorised such as licence holders and their employees, company field officers, and contracted employees during sowing and harvesting times.
All other persons requiring access to poppy paddocks to undertake activities such as soil or plant testing or repairs to infrastructure such as power poles or pumps, or those wanting to move through the paddocks to access another paddock, must first obtain a permit from the Poppy Advisory and Control Board and seek permission from the licence holder and the property owner.