Introduction: Papaver Somniferum Seeds Unwashed

Poppy seeds are a naturally derived product originating from a flowering plant known as papaver somniferum seeds unwashed (poppy plant). Depending on the methods of harvesting and geographical origin of the plant, unwashed poppy seeds may have higher amounts of Schedule II opium alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and thebaine on their seed coats whencompared to washed poppy seeds. The papaver somniferum seeds unwashed themselves possess no opium content. Instead, the opiumalkaloids (e.g., morphine, codeine, and thebaine) are found in the poppy latex, which is a milky white fluid that exudes from the pod when it is cut.

Harvesters, who wish to increase opium alkaloids contents on the poppy seed coats, make cuts in the opium pods before they ripen which allows the latex to seep onto the seed coats. Individuals wishing to extract the opium alkaloid content from papaver somniferum seeds unwashed, use the seeds to create a tea, which contains sufficient amounts of alkaloids to produce psychoactive effects. In the United States, at least 12 deaths.

Unwashed Poppy Seeds

have been reported in the scientific literature associated with use of unwashed poppy seed tea. Unwashed poppy seeds are widely available online and through private websites. Licit Uses Washed and processed poppy seeds are used in foods to make pastries, cakes, porridge, and glaze. People also take poppy seeds by mouth for asthma, cough and diarrhea caused by infection. Poppy seed oil is used in manufacturing to make soap, paint and varnish. Chemistry and Pharmacology The surface of unwashed seed is typically contaminated with the same opium alkaloids (e.g., morphine, codeine and thebaine), as found in the latex exudate from the poppy pods.

The opium alkaloids such as morphine and codeine bind to and act as agonists at opioid receptors thereby producing psychoactive and other pharmacological effects such as analgesia, euphoria, respiratory depression, decreased gastrointestinal motility, and physical and psychological dependence. Pharmacological and toxic effects, abuse, and dependence liabilities of the aforementioned alkaloids are qualitatively similar to those of other Schedule II opioid analgesics (e.g., oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxymorphone etc.).

User Population Unwashed poppy seeds are abused for their opioid effects. Some users boil the seeds to produce a tea, which is consumed for the purposes of perceived “natural” pain relief. Others produce the poppy seed tea from papaver somniferum seeds unwashed purely to obtain a “high”. Papaver somniferum seeds unwashed are a danger to the user and their abuse may result in unpredictable outcomes including death when used alone or in combination with other drugs as reported in the scientific literature.

Control Status Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 812 of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), opium poppy, poppy straw, opium and opiates (including their salts and derivatives) are Schedule II Controlled Substances. Some examples of such substances include morphine, codeine and thebaine. However, the definitions of “opium poppy” and “poppy straw” under 21 U.S.C. 802(19) and (20) specifically exclude the “seed thereof.” As such, poppy seeds are excluded from control under the CSA but the definition does not exclude seeds with opium alkaloids.

Genetics: Papaver Somniferum Seeds Unwashed

The poppy genome contains 51,213 genes encoding proteins distributed 81.6% in 11 individual chromosomes and 18.4% in unplaced scaffolds. In addition, 70.9% of the genome comprises repetitive elements, of which the most represented are the long terminal repeat retrotransposons. This enrichment of genes is related to maintaining homeostasis and a positive regulation of transcription.

The analysis of the synergy of the opium poppy reveals traces of segmental duplications 110 million years ago (MYA) before the divergence between Papaveraceae and Ranunculaceae, and an event of duplication of the complete genome makes 7.8 MYA.

Note:

The opium alkaloids (inclusive of morphine, codeine and thebaine), if present as contaminants on poppy seed material, are not exempted from CSA control. Encounters of these materials are in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.