When harvesting opium from the poppy it is quite effective to slice the poppy seedpod about 10 to 20 days after the plant blooms. Cutting an approximately 1/2 millimeter deep horizontal scratch into the side of the pod will cause the pod to bleed white latex (the thick opium syrup containing both codeine and morphine). After 4 hours the latex should have turned brownish and is ready to harvest by scraping of the edge of the pods and collecting. This latex syrup is opium and can be utilized in many ways, all of which can be dangerous and habit forming. Be careful!