Poppy seed rolls and bread, poppy seed cake, yeast dumplings and numerous other delicacies: the black, white or blue seeds of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) are often used for sweet baked goods in this country. However, since the plants also contain large amounts of opiates - after all, opium and heroin are obtained from opium poppies - cultivation falls under the Narcotics Act and is only permitted in exceptional cases and on a small scale. Since the cultivation of opium poppies is illegal in Germany, there are no instructions for this at this point.

Anyone who grows opium poppies in the garden is liable to prosecution in Germany

Opium poppy falls under the Narcotics Act

Opium poppies are sometimes found sporadically or as an ornamental plant in gardens, although their cultivation is illegal and carries a prison sentence of up to five years. The reason for this is the high content of opiates, which are mostly obtained from the milky sap of the plants. Opium is basically nothing more than the dried milky juice of the opium poppy, and heroin is also made from the plant. Both drugs fall under the Narcotics Act - and with it the opium poppy.

Numerous poppy varieties without opiates

If you only want to cultivate poppies as an ornamental plant in the garden, it is advisable to plant other, permitted types of poppy instead of the forbidden opium poppy, such as the golden poppy that blooms in pretty orange tones, the often deep red Turkish poppy, the white Alpine poppy or the colorful Icelandic poppy. These species and their varieties contain either no or only insignificant amounts of opiates, which is why their cultivation is harmless and therefore permitted.

Planting opium poppies is prohibited in Germany

The cultivation of opium poppy - even if it is only a single plant - is strictly forbidden in Germany. This applies not only to commercial cultivation, but also to cultivation in small areas in private gardens. In exceptional cases, however, approval can be granted upon application, although this is usually only granted to companies or (scientific) institutions and is also subject to a fee. The application can be submitted to the Federal Opium Agency, which is subordinate to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices.

Don't dare to experiment

However, the ban is not particularly severely punished, after all, the plant also grows wild in this country. Even individual copies usually have no consequences. So if you happen to find opium poppies or if they grow sporadically in your garden, you don't have to panic right away - but you shouldn't dare to experiment with opium you have produced yourself. Since the opium content fluctuates greatly depending on the location and weather conditions and it is therefore not possible to make precise statements about it, but even small amounts of opiates can be fatal, it is better not to try them.

tips

Opium poppies can still often be found in East German allotments, as cultivation was permitted in the former GDR until reunification. Word has not yet gotten around to all allotment gardeners that planting is strictly prohibited today and can be punished with sometimes drastic prison terms and fines.

Category:

Herbs