The poppy has been grown for centuries in many European countries where the seed is used for culinary purposes and for its oil.
In Tasmania, the crop is grown for the production of morphine, codeine and thebaine. These alkaloids are extracted from the poppy straw and used in the manufacture of pain killing drugs and in cough mixtures.
The seed of the morphine plant can also be used in cooking and the Tasmanian variety can be recognised by its distinctive blue-grey colour.
Seed from thebaine-enhanced poppies is not sold for culinary purposes.
