Posted on May 18, 2015
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From "The Associated Press"
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_HOMEMADE_MORPHINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-05-18-12-34-58
Discovery opens door for homemade morphine, painkillers
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Scientists have figured out all the steps to make morphine and similar painkillers without using opium poppies, opening the door for home-brewed drugs and even wider abuse.
While no one has yet reported making morphine in the laboratory from scratch, some experts are calling for regulations to prevent garage tinkerers from making do-it-yourself morphine, which can be converted into heroin.
Society needs to "think this through now before it becomes a reality," said bioengineer John Dueber of the University of California, Berkeley, who led a team that discovered the final missing link of the process.
Poppy plants have been farmed for centuries for opium, from which morphine is derived. The controlled substance is often used before and after surgeries to relieve severe pain.
EDITORIAL COMMENT:- Another totally unneeded "great advance" from "The Wonderful World of Science" brought to you courtesy of "Your Friendly Neighbourhood Genetic Modifier".
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_HOMEMADE_MORPHINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-05-18-12-34-58
Discovery opens door for homemade morphine, painkillers
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Scientists have figured out all the steps to make morphine and similar painkillers without using opium poppies, opening the door for home-brewed drugs and even wider abuse.
While no one has yet reported making morphine in the laboratory from scratch, some experts are calling for regulations to prevent garage tinkerers from making do-it-yourself morphine, which can be converted into heroin.
Society needs to "think this through now before it becomes a reality," said bioengineer John Dueber of the University of California, Berkeley, who led a team that discovered the final missing link of the process.
Poppy plants have been farmed for centuries for opium, from which morphine is derived. The controlled substance is often used before and after surgeries to relieve severe pain.
EDITORIAL COMMENT:- Another totally unneeded "great advance" from "The Wonderful World of Science" brought to you courtesy of "Your Friendly Neighbourhood Genetic Modifier".
Posted in these groups: 
Science
Science
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 3
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Legal or not we all know there will be people that will do it. I think the first way to address the issue is by making it socially unacceptable. When something looses it's tag of "cool" it looses it's traction. This will not solve the problem but it's a good start. Let's make it honorable to be clean, sharp, and respectful. Just my Take.
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COL Ted Mc
SGT Anthony Rossi - Sergeant; What a bizarre idea.
I mean, making socially desirable and productive behaviour "cool" and making undesirable and counterproductive behaviour "uncool". I don't think you'll get very far with convincing those who make a living out of the "helping professions" (like Social Work, Criminology, Penology, and Education).
After all if everyone refrained from harmful behaviour and helped out those in need then there simply wouldn't be any careers to be made in "remediation" and "helping".
I mean, making socially desirable and productive behaviour "cool" and making undesirable and counterproductive behaviour "uncool". I don't think you'll get very far with convincing those who make a living out of the "helping professions" (like Social Work, Criminology, Penology, and Education).
After all if everyone refrained from harmful behaviour and helped out those in need then there simply wouldn't be any careers to be made in "remediation" and "helping".
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COL Ted Mc
MSgt James Mullis - Master Sergeant; Because Monsanto hasn't developed (and patented) GM poppies that will only produce one crop and won't produce viable seeds thus forcing the farmers to buy new seeds every year?
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COL Ted Mc
SGM (Join to see) Sergenat Major; - Quite right. But do we really have to make it easier for them?
Face it, the only "reason" for wanting to "grow your own" is to increase corporate profits.
Face it, the only "reason" for wanting to "grow your own" is to increase corporate profits.
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SGM (Join to see)
COL Mc...roger that. No, not easier. Yet we must also recognize there will always be people addicted to something for one reason or another; we can often find other ways to affect supply and treatment that in turn affect demand. Certainly we must have controls, and punishments that match the offense. But also treatments that address, and hopefully help solve the long term problem. It is a game of whack-a-mole otherwise.
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COL Ted Mc
SGM (Join to see) - Sergeant Major; "Treating the addiction" without solving the underlying issues which caused the addiction in the first place is about as useful as using a shell dressing after a guillotining.
Until I got a grip on my personal issues it wouldn't have been inaccurate to call me a "high-functioning alcoholic". (Admittedly not so high-functioning that anyone ever offered to send my cohorts a barrel of whatever it was I was drinking.)
Until I got a grip on my personal issues it wouldn't have been inaccurate to call me a "high-functioning alcoholic". (Admittedly not so high-functioning that anyone ever offered to send my cohorts a barrel of whatever it was I was drinking.)
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