Canadian police are wondering how to deal with a poppy-derived drug that exists in a legal grey area.
Dode, also known as doda, is made from the husks and seeds of the poppy flower, which is also used to make opium.
Although Health Canada, Canada’s equivalent of the FDA, has said the drug is clearly illegal, it is still being sold openly in flea markets, smaller grocery stores and meat shops. Health Canada has said any substance containing opium poppy is illegal.
Other poppies that do not produce opium are legal in Canada, but all parts of the opium poppy are prohibited including the husk. Opium is typically made from resin scraped off immature seed pods.
Dode is highly addictive and gives users a brief high followed by a sense of calmness. It is popular among truck drivers and factory workers in the South Asian community. Dode is said to help them stay awake. Some retailers have no idea there is any legal problem with selling it. The drug can sell for as little as one dollar per gram and is taken with tea.
Police in Toronto, Ontario recently seized 27 kilograms of the drug but have to wait for tests to come back from Health Canada before they can lay charges.
One city councilor in Brampton, Ontario, is pushing to have dode banned from sale. While addictions to other poppy-derived drugs like heroin can demand hundreds of dollars a day to feed, heavy dode users may spend as much as $40.
Most users are employed and have young families, says an addiction specialist.
Dode, also known as doda, is made from the husks and seeds of the poppy flower, which is also used to make opium.
Although Health Canada, Canada’s equivalent of the FDA, has said the drug is clearly illegal, it is still being sold openly in flea markets, smaller grocery stores and meat shops. Health Canada has said any substance containing opium poppy is illegal.
Other poppies that do not produce opium are legal in Canada, but all parts of the opium poppy are prohibited including the husk. Opium is typically made from resin scraped off immature seed pods.
Dode is highly addictive and gives users a brief high followed by a sense of calmness. It is popular among truck drivers and factory workers in the South Asian community. Dode is said to help them stay awake. Some retailers have no idea there is any legal problem with selling it. The drug can sell for as little as one dollar per gram and is taken with tea.
Police in Toronto, Ontario recently seized 27 kilograms of the drug but have to wait for tests to come back from Health Canada before they can lay charges.
One city councilor in Brampton, Ontario, is pushing to have dode banned from sale. While addictions to other poppy-derived drugs like heroin can demand hundreds of dollars a day to feed, heavy dode users may spend as much as $40.
Most users are employed and have young families, says an addiction specialist.
