Has poppy cultivation in Iran been legalized? Details on morphine and codeine production

Reports about poppy cultivation have created the impression that growing this plant has been legalized in Iran.

Seyyed Alireza Salami stated: Many medicinal raw materials are of natural origin and are obtained from medicinal plants. Some of these plants, such as cannabis, all kinds of anemones, and some medicinal mushrooms, are associated with sensitivities in public opinion; While important compounds such as morphine, codeine, thebaine, CBD and psilocybin are obtained from these plants. He added: Iran, having more than 10 climates and scientific and research capacity, has the possibility of producing and processing these plants inside the country. In the current situation, one of the important axes of this program is the production of primary medicinal compounds from specific anemone cultivars, including morphine, thebaine, codeine and papaverine.

Referring to the provision of some medicinal raw materials from the drug discovery site, the head of the Industrial and Medical Cannabis Research Institute said: Although more than two decades had passed since the existence of the law related to this issue, its implementation remained silent and pharmaceutical companies used the compounds obtained from the discoveries. This method, especially in the conditions of embargo and import restrictions, creates risks for drug supply and is also associated with challenges in terms of contamination and impurity of raw materials.

He continued: Cultivation of certain cultivars of this plant under controlled conditions, with a deviation rate close to zero, provides access to pure and registered raw materials and can make the supply of medicines needed by the people more stable.

Controlled cultivation of Elephra does not mean free cultivation of poppy

Emphasizing that the new directive does not mean the free cultivation of poppy, Salami said: "The free cultivation of poppy is still considered a crime." This plan is only related to a specific variety called Elifera anemone and specific cultivars with high morphine and thebans, whose cultivation must be done in designated areas and with legal permission.

He added: Issuance of cultivation license is the responsibility of the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad, the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters supervises the implementation of the process, and the Food and Drug Organization plays a regulatory role in the field of drug processing and production. This industry with a new concept does not have a long history in Iran and its implementation has entered the operational stage since 1404, while countries such as Turkey, Australia and Spain have used this method for decades.

Domestic seed propagation and development of cultivation on a wider scale

The head of the Industrial and Medicinal Hemp Research Institute said, referring to the measures taken to provide seeds, since the desired cultivars were not available in the country at first, their seeds had to be imported from abroad, but last year, the propagation of the seeds of the cultivars in accordance with the legal regulations was successfully carried out, and now there is no dependence on the import of the seeds of these cultivars.

He continued: This year, the cultivation program will be followed on a wider scale so that the raw material known as "poppy straw" or "PS" will be available to pharmaceutical companies. Using their knowledge and infrastructure, these companies can produce concentrated poppy straw or "CPS", then compounds such as morphine and thebaine can be obtained from it.

The need to amend the rules and prevent deviation

Salami considered the lack of sufficient experience in this industry and the media's misinterpretation of the instructions to be the challenges of implementing the plan, and said: The incorrect dissemination of information made some people think that poppy cultivation has been freed; Cultivation is still a crime and only certain cultivars can be cultivated with a license and under legal supervision.

Referring to the characteristics of the variety used, he added: the amount of latex or sap produced by threshing in these varieties is low or close to zero. However, in my opinion, it is necessary to consider the method of extraction in the rules, in addition to determining the variety and permitted varieties, and the possibility of adding a ban on razor cutting as an appendix to the previous law should be investigated in order to minimize the risk of deviation.

Referring to the experience of Türkiye and Australia, Salami stated: In these countries, the amount of deviation in this production method is close to zero, and even the farms are not necessarily enclosed. Iran can also become one of the regional and extra-regional poles in the production of primary compounds and final pharmaceutical products by careful planning, compliance with standards and prevention of deviation and monopoly.

The role of the government and the anti-narcotics headquarters in the implementation of the plan

Referring to the legal background of this action, he said: The note under Article 41 existed since 1382, but for various reasons, it remained silent until 1404. Since last year, several expert meetings and working groups were held with the participation of the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad, the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters and the Food and Drug Organization, which led to the formulation of the final guidelines for cultivation, monitoring and processing licenses.

Salami considered the role of the anti-narcotics headquarters as important in advancing this process and added: "In the past one or two years, the authorities' approach has moved in the direction of ensuring that legal and regulatory requirements are met with proper management and that safe and stable medicinal raw materials are available to the people."

He also listed people's support as one of the important factors of the project's success and said: knowing the goals of this program and understanding that the free cultivation of poppy or opium production is not going to be allowed in the country, can help the people's support with the authorities and speed up the implementation of the plan.

The head of the Industrial and Medicinal Hemp Research Institute added: The correct implementation of this directive can provide the basis for the development of the country's capacities not only in the field of anemones, but also in the field of plants such as cannabis and medicinal compounds derived from mushrooms. Plants and compounds, some of which have psychoactive uses and at the same time vital medicinal uses.

cost of land; A challenge to produce cheap medicine

He considered the high cost of producing raw materials as one of the most important challenges of the plan and said that the rent of land dedicated to cultivation is more than the expected standard level and accounts for more than 50% of the production chain.

According to the public relations report of the anti-narcotics headquarters, Salami emphasized in the end: the government should support in providing land, cultivation inputs, implementation of the project and processing so that the costs remain at a reasonable level and high-quality raw materials lead to the production of drugs at a reasonable price. Also, public awareness and detailed information about the goals and conditions of the project are necessary to gain people's trust and support.