I keep seeing minor mentions of really important opiate-based medicines such as morphine being in short-supply globally. These farmers grow it as a cash crop which, for the Taliban, has an amazing markup when they move it around, refine it, and sell it onto the black market.
I have to question the sense in stopping these people growing opium poppies. I'd rather see them offered an option to change to likely-less-profitable crops, and an opportunity to continue opiate production under a strict regime to ensure the raw material only ends up going for medical use, but is given a better price than that from the Taliban. Sure, require licensing, spot-checks and estimates of crop yields, security for the narcotic crop, and so on. Just bear in mind, these farmers are the experts at growing the stuff and the world's healthcare systems are crying out for opioid-based painkillers and such at a reasonable cost. Far, far better to accept the on-the-ground reality and turn it to good use.
Alas, this common-sense solution might get some idiot politician a little bad press with the holier-than thou - and would upset multinational pharmaceutical companies who'd like to exploit patents for the manufacture of synthetic opiates.
"Sure, require licensing, spot-checks and estimates of crop yields, security for the narcotic crop, and so on." Yeah, sure. The current government of Afghanistan couldn't do this if it was happening in the Presidential Palace's courtyard. What makes you think they can in any way, shape, or form carry out this level of regulation on an entire country????