The American military in general was never a place that rewarded logical thought processes. Commanders, as you apparently unfortunately found out, are not inclined -- nor are they rewarded professionally -- for handling unorthodox but explainable situations with unorthodox solutions.
If poppy seeds are not a drug (and they're not), there's no reason to prohibit their consumption. There is also no earthly reason for anyone to defend a stupid decision just because an idiot in an important-sounding position made it.
There are plenty of very simple ways to distinguish between an opioid user and a poppy seed enthusiast.
Getting caught in a golden flow is not just because someone was abusing opium through the use of poppy seeds. With the process needed to ingest enough to get any feelings at all, it is a pain in the neck.
But there is more than just getting a high, there are other side effects that are a detriment to the military member and their mission. Poppy seeds contain opioid alkaloids presenting symptoms of opioid addiction. These include the following:
• Mood swings
• Dilated pupils
• Flushed, itchy skin
• Nodding off
• Fatigue
• Increased tolerance
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Troubled relationships
• Financial issues
• Withdrawal from society
None of these are positive for the work involved in the business.
https://www.genesisrecovery.com/poppy-seeds-high/
There is never a single, solitary reason for anything in the business. Please don’t let the media create the myth of punishment and not all the possibilities of the use of golden flow. If a troop can get through that is actually using opioids more than just eating muffins, that will be discovered in the follow on investigation. Just going positive doesn’t end the investigation right there. It only starts it. But the benefits for the member and the business will be recovered in time.
Wy69