Papaver somniferum

It is my understanding that the opium poppy can be grown for ornamental purposes in the United States. At our local Extension Service a gentleman named Mike received a number of poppy seeds from a local resident. Mike has two green thumbs and everything he plants thrives. Two years ago he planted the seeds and since then, poppies are cropping up in the vegetable beds, on the roadside, in the mulch and in the soil for sale. Eventually our little town might have a profusion of this poppy growing everywhere, and I do wonder how the local constabulary will handle the situation.

This poppy also grows in my back garden, and is increasing in numbers each year. It is a beautiful flower, although the bloom only lasts for one day compared to the blossom of the common red poppy.

Special thanks to SteveMoulding for his UA on my image Welcome to Bergen - very much appreciated.

Thanks for looking today,

Anne



Quote: In the United States, opium is listed as a Schedule II controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration. In addition, "Opium poppy and poppy straw" are also prohibited. However, this is not typically enforced for poppies grown or sold for ornamental or food purposes.Though the opium poppy is legal for culinary or Aesthetic reasons, poppies were once grown as a cash crop by farmers in California; the law of poppy cultivation in the United States is somewhat ambiguous. The reason for the ambiguity is because The Opium Poppy Control Act of 1942 (now repealed), stated that any opium poppy should be declared illegal, even if the farmers were issued a state permit. The Opium Poppy Control Act stated:
It shall be unlawful for any person who is not the holder of a license authorizing him to produce the opium poppy, duly issued to him by the Secretary of the Treasury in accordance with the provisions of this Act, to produce the opium poppy, or to permit the production of the opium poppy in or upon any place owned, occupied, used, or controlled by him.

This led to the Poppy Rebellion, and to the Narcotics Bureau arresting anyone planting opium poppies and forcing the destruction of poppy fields of anyone who defied the prohibition of poppy cultivation.Though the press of these days showed favour towards the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, the state of California supported the farmers who grew opium poppies for their seeds. Today, this area of law has remained vague and remains a controversy in the United States. The Opium Poppy Control Act of 1942 was repealed on 27 October of the year 1970.

Brand:	OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
Camera:	Olympus E-620 Check out Olympus Image Space!
Lens:	Lensbaby Composer/Edge-80
Recording media:	RAW (digital)
Date Taken:	13 Apr 2012 - 10:06 AM
Lens Max Aperture:	f/1.0
Aperture:	f/2.5
Shutter Speed:	1/100sec
Exposure Comp:	0.0
ISO:	100
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
Flash:	No Flash

Title:	Papaver somniferum
Username:	AnneWorner
Uploaded:	31 Jan 2013 - 12:18 PM
Tags:	Black & white, Black and white, Flowers, General
Votes:	59
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