Papaver bracteatum
Encyclopedia
Papaver bracteatum, also known as the Iranian poppy, is a sturdy perennial poppy
with large deep red flowers up to 8 inches (20 cm) across on stiff stalks up to 4 feet (1.22 metres) high with a prominent black spot near the base of the petals. It is related to the commonly cultivated oriental poppy, Papaver orientale.
Non-horticultural use of this species is for the production of thebaine
, which is commercially converted to codeine
and semi-synthetic opiates. Papaver bracteatum does not contain morphine
or codeine and no other narcotic alkaloids in significant amounts. Oripavine
was reported in minute traces but would not exert a relevant activity.
United States
domestic cultivation of P. bractaetum was proposed by president Richard Nixon
's Office of Management and Budget in the early 1970s as an alternative to Turkish
opium
poppies, which the administration was attempting to eliminate. This was because P. bracteatum does not contain morphine
, which is converted to heroin, but is high in thebaine
for legal codeine production, which was in crisis at the time because of the dwindling Turkish supply. However, US government scientists feared Bentley compounds
., opioid
s thousands of times more potent than heroin, would replace heroin in the US.
Poppy
A poppy is one of a group of a flowering plants in the poppy family, many of which are grown in gardens for their colorful flowers. Poppies are sometimes used for symbolic reasons, such as in remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime....
with large deep red flowers up to 8 inches (20 cm) across on stiff stalks up to 4 feet (1.22 metres) high with a prominent black spot near the base of the petals. It is related to the commonly cultivated oriental poppy, Papaver orientale.
Non-horticultural use of this species is for the production of thebaine
Thebaine
Thebaine , its name coming from the Greek Θῆβαι, Thēbai, an ancient city in Upper Egypt, is an opiate alkaloid. A minor constituent of opium, thebaine is chemically similar to both morphine and codeine, but has stimulatory rather than depressant effects, causing convulsions similar to strychnine...
, which is commercially converted to codeine
Codeine
Codeine or 3-methylmorphine is an opiate used for its analgesic, antitussive, and antidiarrheal properties...
and semi-synthetic opiates. Papaver bracteatum does not contain morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
or codeine and no other narcotic alkaloids in significant amounts. Oripavine
Oripavine
Oripavine is an opiate and the major metabolite of thebaine. It is the parent compound from which a series of semi-synthetic opioids are derived, which includes the compounds etorphine and buprenorphine...
was reported in minute traces but would not exert a relevant activity.
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
domestic cultivation of P. bractaetum was proposed by president Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
's Office of Management and Budget in the early 1970s as an alternative to Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
poppies, which the administration was attempting to eliminate. This was because P. bracteatum does not contain morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
, which is converted to heroin, but is high in thebaine
Thebaine
Thebaine , its name coming from the Greek Θῆβαι, Thēbai, an ancient city in Upper Egypt, is an opiate alkaloid. A minor constituent of opium, thebaine is chemically similar to both morphine and codeine, but has stimulatory rather than depressant effects, causing convulsions similar to strychnine...
for legal codeine production, which was in crisis at the time because of the dwindling Turkish supply. However, US government scientists feared Bentley compounds
Bentley compounds
Bentley compounds are a class of semi-synthetic opioids that were first synthesized from thebaine by K. W. Bentley. The compounds include: oxycodone, oxymorphone, nalbuphine, naloxone, naltrexone, buprenorphine and etorphine. They represent the first series of more potent μ-opioid agonists, with...
., opioid
Opioid
An opioid is a psychoactive chemical that works by binding to opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central and peripheral nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract...
s thousands of times more potent than heroin, would replace heroin in the US.