Opium poppies fall under the Narcotics Act
Opium poppies are occasionally overgrown or found as an ornamental plant in gardens, whereby their cultivation is illegal and can be punished with prison sentences 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. Basically, opium is nothing more than the dried milky sap of the opium poppy; heroin is also made from the plant. Both drugs fall under the Narcotics Act - and with it the opium poppy.
also read
- Opium poppies in the garden - are there legal alternatives?
- Opium poppy - harvest legal in Germany?
- Opium poppies - sowing only with permission
Numerous types of poppies without opiates
If you only want to cultivate poppy seeds as an ornamental plant in the garden, instead of the forbidden opium poppy we recommend the cultivation of other permitted poppy varieties such as the golden poppy, which 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 poppies - even if it is only a single plant - is strictly forbidden in Germany. This applies not only to the commercial, but also to the cultivation on small areas in private gardens. In exceptional cases, however, a permit can be issued on request, 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 subordinate to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices.
Don't dare to experiment
However, the ban is not punished particularly severely, after all, the plant also grows wild in this country. Even individual specimens usually have no consequences. So if you happen to find opium poppies or they grow sporadically in your garden, you don't have to panic - you shouldn't dare to experiment with self-made opium, however. Since the opium content fluctuates strongly depending on the location and weather conditions and therefore exact statements cannot be made about it, but even small amounts of opiates can be fatal, it is better not to try them.
Tips
Even today, opium poppies can often be found in East German allotments, as cultivation was permitted in the former GDR until reunification. The fact that planting is strictly forbidden today and can be punished with drastic prison sentences and fines has not yet got around to all allotment gardeners.
