The Dark Underbelly of Tasmania

There’s more to Tasmania than meets the eye. But could this present a golden opportunity?

Famous for its clean air, beautiful landscapes, and Tasmanian devils, Tasmania is a popular holiday destination that attracts over one million visitors each year. It’s often reported that celebrities seek refuge in Tasmania in order to get away from the paparazzi, as they bask in some of the oldest trees, and drink some of the purest water on earth.

However, alongside these natural wonders of Tasmania is a darker underbelly that has created some controversy for the State. That controversy is its poppy fields.

Tasmania is one of the largest producers and exporters of the narcotic raw material of opiate pain killers in the entire world. In fact, Tasmania grows enough poppy to satiate almost half of the world’s demand. This makes sense given that the state has low-risk and optimal growing conditions, relatively inexpensive land, limited pests and diseases, and abundant, pure water resources.

However, what impact does this have?

The Opioid Epidemic

Opioids are powerful, and highly effective medicines that are able to greatly improve the living conditions of people suffering from chronic pain. However, as…