Johnny Opiumseed is a legendary American figure who plants opium seeds throughout the United States. 

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Opium is a natural intoxicant and medicine that has been used for thousands of years in some places. It is addictive but generally safe to smoke in its natural form. 

Synthetic opiates are dangerous and kill tens of thousands of people in the U.S. every year.

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In the United States the government discourages people from using safer natural opium, and promotes the use of deadly synthetic opiates through a wide variety of legal and social pressures. 

The reason for this is not clear, but it may have something to do with the evangelical roots of the United States. 

Whatever the motive, the net effect is dead young people. A lot of them. 

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Johnny Opiumseed has planted opium poppies around the U.S., and continues planting. 

https://www.livescience.com/59452-why-opium-is-grown-outside-us.html