Did you know that it is forbidden to plant poppies in the garden in Germany? However, this only applies to the opium poppy.
Poppy is a beautiful plant that comes in a variety of designs and colors. But are poppies even allowed in the garden?
Opium poppy contains opiates
You might be wondering what this question is about. But the answer is very simple. Even if the poppy is a beautiful plant, poppy also contains some intoxicating substances called opiates. While gold poppies, which bloom in the most wonderful shades of orange, and Turkish poppies, which captivate with their deep red, can be planted without any problems, things are a little different with opium poppies. Because this one has just said opiates. Therefore, it may not be planted in the garden without permission. If you do, there can be severe pen alties.
Cultivation is prohibited in Germany
The cultivation of opium poppies, even if it is only a single plant, falls under the Narcotics Act and is not only subject to approval, but also to a fee. A permit is only issued by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices in Bonn. This must be done before cultivating or planting opium poppies. The address: Federal Opium Agency, Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 38, 53113 Bonn. Further information can of course also be found on the Internet at www.bfarm.de.
Cultivation permitted in Austria
In contrast to Germany, the planting of opium poppies is permitted in Austria. It's actually a long tradition. On the other hand, anyone who simply grows opium poppies in Germany and thus violates the Narcotics Act can expect up to five years in prison or a hefty fine.