SA MAY soon have fields of white, pink and purple poppy flowers dotting the landscape with the state Opposition releasing draft legislation to amend the Controlled Substances Act 1984.
If successful it would enable producers to apply for licences to cultivate and process alkaloid poppies under strict guidelines.
Earlier this week Opposition Agriculture Minister David Ridgway sent letters to Agriculture Minister Leon Bignell, Health Minister Jack Snelling, and Police Minister Tony Piccolo, along with a copy of the proposed draft bill which he hopes to further discuss with them.
Tas has had a monopoly on Australia's poppy production for decades and produces about half of the world's opiate material used in the global pain relief market.
However changes to federal and state legislation in Vic and NT have seen poppy growing expanded to the mainland.
Last month Vic harvested its first commercial alkaloid poppy crop - about 200 hectares contracted to TPI Enterprises.
At the time they stated they had firm commitments from farmers to grow about 3000ha of poppies in 2015 but expected this figure could increase to between 4000ha and 4500ha before planting next month.
It is estimated to deliver $12 million to $15m to growers at the farmgate.
Three Australian companies - TPI, Glaxo Smith Kline and Tasmanian Alkaloids - are licensed to produce narcotic raw material for international manufacturers of therapeutic pain relief drugs such as morphine, codeine and thebaine.
Growers wanting to grow poppies must have a contract with one of these companies.
Mr Ridgway was keen to change regulatory framework so SA farmers could have the same economic opportunities as those in Vic and Tas.
He believes the South East, along with pockets of the Mid North and Fleurieu Peninsula, would be suitable for poppy growing - anywhere with good underground water and a mild climate.
"If it is good enough for Vic why shouldn't we do the same in SA?" he said.
"I've had discussions with various farmers who see the opportunities for poppies and adding another crop to their rotations."
Mr Ridgway plans to consult with industry in coming weeks and hopes to form a legislative proposal by June.
"We want feedback from the community about what they think, and if it can be done. If there is good support we will take it further and look to introduce it to Parliament but it might be that there is no interest and poppies don't have a future here," he said.
A government spokesperson said it had not received a letter from Mr Ridgway, but will look at it, if and when it arrived.
"This will affect a number of portfolios and take a whole of government approach to what is suggested," they said.
It will also be a matter of convincing licensed companies to enter the SA market.
At this stage they were not willing to publicly express interest in the state.
Tasmanian Alkaloids managing director Doug Blackaby said the company had no plans to grow poppies in SA.
"The Tas industry already supplies a significant portion of the world demand and given current market conditions an immediate expansion into other states is unlikely," he said.
"Our company will continue with Vic growing trials as a possible future offset against the remote possibility of a poor harvest in Tas."
A spokesperson for TPI said they were focusing their production on Vic, Tas and NT.