Tasmania- Opium Paradise?

Besides being home to many endemic species, Tasmania harbors about 85 percent of the world’s supply of thebaine, an opium poppy extract used to make pain-reducing prescription drugs. The small state also produces the entire world’s supply of oripavine, often used to treat heroin overdoses, as well as a quarter of the global supply of morphine and codeine. However, the pharmaceutical industry’s main concern is the opium poppy extract supply since so much of it is concentrated on one island. The drug companies are looking to expand their crops to the Australian mainland, however many Tasmanian farmers are opposed to this expansion since about $80 million of the state’s revenue can be attributed to opium farming. As a compromise, both the pharmaceutical companies and the farmers are advocating for the legalization of genetic engineering to ensure a more consistent crop yield. Tasmania has producing opium extract from poppies since the 1950’s and farmers are persistent to keep the industry going exclusively in Tasmania.

Jessica Tam

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/20/business/international/tasmania-big-supplier-to-drug-companies-faces-changes.html?_r=0