Opium Poppies Grown at WHF?

[John]

Had the op's been growing at JB's cottage I think rather more would have been made of it. As they were growing at WHF, which NB was ultimately responsible for, it appears to have fallen under the radar. Perhaps on the assumption, rightly or wrongly, that NB was above reproach.

There is no mystery about the growing of poppies at WHF, poppies have been cultivated commercially for many other reasons aside from opiate extraction.

[Holly Goodhead]

There is no mystery about the growing of poppies at WHF, poppies have been cultivated commercially for many other reasons aside from opiate extraction.

I understand seeds for culinary and flowers for ornamental.  But these reasons don't explain the written testimonies of Dr Craig and Chief Sup Harris who state JB told them WHF had a special licence to grow opium poppies for the pharmaceutical industry.  If JB was lying why didn't EP interview him about this and use it against him at trial?  Dr Craig and Chief Sup Harris looked at the poppies.

It also appears local surveyor, George Nicholls, noted the opium poppies when he carried out an annual assessment of the farm shortly before the tragedy.

[John]

I understand seeds for culinary and flowers for ornamental.  But these reasons don't explain the written testimonies of Dr Craig and Chief Sup Harris who state JB told them WHF had a special licence to grow opium poppies for the pharmaceutical industry.  If JB was lying why didn't EP interview him about this and use it against him at trial?  Dr Craig and Chief Sup Harris looked at the poppies.

It also appears local surveyor, George Nicholls, noted the opium poppies when he carried out an annual assessment of the farm shortly before the tragedy.

It comes down to two options, either they misunderstood him and what he actually said was that a special licence was granted to the pharmaceutical company to extract opium or that a special licence was needed by such a company.  Growing poppies on WHF was perfectly legal, Nevill did nothing wrong despite your insinuations to the contrary.

[Holly Goodhead]

It comes down to two options, either they misunderstood him and what he actually said was that a special licence was granted to the pharmaceutical company to extract opium or that a special licence was needed by such a company.  Growing poppies on WHF was perfectly legal, Nevill did nothing wrong despite your insinuations to the contrary.

I can't find any evidence of the UK government granting a licence to a pharmaceutical company to extract opium from poppies grown on UK soil prior to the 2000's.

It appears the one and only licence granted to a pharma company was to MacFarlan Smith in 2006.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacFarlan_Smith#Present 

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=1503140

Prior to the above opium was sourced from India and Tasmania.

[Myster]

I can't find any evidence of the UK government granting a licence to a pharmaceutical company to extract opium from poppies grown on UK soil prior to the 2000's.

It appears the one and only licence granted to a pharma company was to MacFarlan Smith in 2006.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacFarlan_Smith#Present 

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=1503140

Prior to the above opium was sourced from India and Tasmania.

Just because you can't find anything online about licensing in '85 doesn't mean it didn't exist.

This has become an obsessive mantra of yours, Holly... how many more times are you going to repeat it!?

[Holly Goodhead]

Just because you can't find anything online about licensing in '85 doesn't mean it didn't exist.

This has become an obsessive mantra of yours, Holly... how many more times are you going to repeat it!?

That's why I've said I can't find any evidence and haven't said there isn't any evidence.  If licences had been granted before 2006 I would have expected to find something.  I've searched 2,364,237,561 websites and found nothing.  I've been to all the London libraries too and found nothing.  I've asked round all my farmer friends found nothing.  I'm just drafting a letter to the Home Office requesting info under FOI re any licences granted before 2006.  I'll upload the reply.

John has only recently joined in the debate re the poppies and I was just advising him of the situation to save him ploughing through 20 pages of posts. 

I'm trying my best to get to the bottom of it. 

[Caroline]

That's why I've said I can't find any evidence and haven't said there isn't any evidence.  If licences had been granted before 2006 I would have expected to find something.  I've searched 2,364,237,561 websites and found nothing.  I've been to all the London libraries too and found nothing.  I've asked round all my farmer friends found nothing.  I'm just drafting a letter to the Home Office requesting info under FOI re any licences granted before 2006.  I'll upload the reply.

John has only recently joined in the debate re the poppies and I was just advising him of the situation to save him ploughing through 20 pages of posts. 

I'm trying my best to get to the bottom of it.

Well, well, well ...... I have found another reference to the opium poppies. It is in Colin's book (Chapter 3, page 43). He states that Stan Jones told him "Nevill was growing opium under a special government license for the pharmaceutical indistry". Obviously he was told this by Jeremy and it led to Sheila being tested for narcotics. The tests proved negative for cocaine BUT he goes on to say that there was an"unusually high level of haloperidol" in her system.

[John]

That's why I've said I can't find any evidence and haven't said there isn't any evidence.  If licences had been granted before 2006 I would have expected to find something.  I've searched 2,364,237,561 websites and found nothing.  I've been to all the London libraries too and found nothing.  I've asked round all my farmer friends found nothing.  I'm just drafting a letter to the Home Office requesting info under FOI re any licences granted before 2006.  I'll upload the reply.

John has only recently joined in the debate re the poppies and I was just advising him of the situation to save him ploughing through 20 pages of posts. 

I'm trying my best to get to the bottom of it.

Thanx guys.  I really don't think there was anything sinister in Nevill growing a field of poppies at WHF.  Jeremy on the other hand must have been elated.

[Holly Goodhead]

Well, well, well ...... I have found another reference to the opium poppies. It is in Colin's book (Chapter 3, page 43). He states that Stan Jones told him "Nevill was growing opium under a special government license for the pharmaceutical indistry". Obviously he was told this by Jeremy and it led to Sheila being tested for narcotics. The tests proved negative for cocaine BUT he goes on to say that there was an"unusually high level of haloperidol" in her system.

Good find Caro   

Why is it obvious JB told DS Jones?  Isn't it more likely he learned this from Chief Sup Harris either directly or indirectly?

Samples were taken for all adult victims in order that they could be screened for drugs and alcohol as evidenced by the pathologist's samples list.  I think it's common knowledge in terms of recreational drugs only a faint trace of cannabis showed up for SC.  CC states in his WS he asked SC if she took cocaine and she denied it.  He goes on to say her friends confirmed she did.  Dr Ferguson also states in his WS he was aware SC used cocaine socially.

Had there have been an usually high level of halperidol in SC's system this would have been confirmed through the toxicology tests carried out. 

[Caroline]

Good find Caro   

Why is it obvious JB told DS Jones?  Isn't it more likely he learned this from Chief Sup Harris either directly or indirectly?

Samples were taken for all adult victims in order that they could be screened for drugs and alcohol as evidenced by the pathologist's samples list.  I think it's common knowledge in terms of recreational drugs only a faint trace of cannabis showed up for SC.  CC states in his WS he asked SC if she took cocaine and she denied it.  He goes on to say her friends confirmed she did.  Dr Ferguson also states in his WS he was aware SC used cocaine socially.

Had there have been an usually high level of halperidol in SC's system this would have been confirmed through the toxicology tests carried out.

Perhaps it was, we haven't seen all the documentation pertaining to the case.

[Holly Goodhead]

Perhaps it was, we haven't seen all the documentation pertaining to the case.

"Haloperidol was detected in the liver - 0.55 micrograms per gram and in the blood - 15 nanograms per millilitre."

http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=207.0;attach=750

I assume the above is capable of determining whether or not this was "unusually high"?

[Caroline]

"Haloperidol was detected in the liver - 0.55 micrograms per gram and in the blood - 15 nanograms per millilitre."

http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=207.0;attach=750

I assume the above is capable of determining whether or not this was "unusually high"?

Is there a doctor in the house? 

[Myster]

Is there a doctor in the house? 

https://twitter.com/poppydoctor

[Holly Goodhead]

Is there a doctor in the house? 

Not a MD just a space scientist 

When I've read about drink driving it's always expressed as volume of alcohol over volume contained in biological sample with clearly defined parameters as to what is under the permitted limit and what is over:

http://www.drinkdrivinglaw.co.uk/drink_driving_limit.htm

So I'm assuming there's something similar with POM whereby a suitably qualified person is able to confirm whether or not the patient is receiving too high or low dose based on biological samples showing quantity of drug contained within? 

I've not really looked into SC's POM.  Had a quick look and it appears the adverse effects eg Tardive dyskinsea are rare <1% incidence

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haloperidol

Are they all the same?  I think SC's was Haloperidol Deconate. 

[Holly Goodhead]

In today's MoS:

"Should cannabis be legalised in UK for medicinal use"?

Arguments for yes and no.  The no argument by Kevin A. Sabet, former White House drug policy adviser to President Barack Obama:

"Imagine if someone grew opium poppies in their garden and told you to smoke it to get the effects of morphine, which is an extract of the plant.  That is what is happening with the movement to legitimise medical cannabis".

There's little doubt opium poppies were growing at WHF.  Was NB addicted to morphine from his plane crash during WW11 which resulted in back surgery.  NB sustained serious injuries and  at one time it was thought he would never walk again.