Thai Farmers Introduce Organic Chicken Raised on Hemp Feed

Although Thailand officially decriminalized the use and production of marijuana only last week, residents and local authorities had already begun exploring the use of industrial, non-psychoactive cannabis months earlier. As a result of these reforms, a wide variety of products directly or indirectly related to cannabis have appeared on the market. Restaurants now serve food and drinks containing plant extracts, companies produce textiles and polymers from cannabis, and various vendors offer medicines and cosmetics.

Against this backdrop, farmers from the Lampang community in northern Thailand have introduced organic chicken raised without antibiotics. According to the farmers, the birds were fed industrial hemp, which helped them become healthy and well-nourished.

Hemp Feed Helps Chickens Recover from Disease

According to Sirin Chamthet, head of the village farmers’ cooperative, about a year ago, the local chicken population was hit by an outbreak of avian bronchitis. Knowing about the healing properties of hemp and its wide availability, the farmers began feeding the chickens hemp fibers. As a result, the birds not only recovered but also developed immunity to the disease.

Currently, the village sells meat and eggs from chickens raised on hemp feed. Experts from the Department of Agrotechnology at Chiang Mai University, who sponsored the farmers’ idea to use hemp as feed, monitor the quality and safety of the products.

Benefits of Cannabinoids for Poultry

Both the farmers and university experts claim that cannabinoids helped the chickens overcome the disease and other related infections due to their antiseptic properties and ability to combat even antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Additionally, the sedative effect of cannabinoids reduced the birds’ stress levels, which positively impacted the quality and quantity of the meat produced.

At present, producers and medical professionals are closely monitoring the production and consumption of these products, collecting and analyzing all available data. In the future, if no significant health risks are found, this use of hemp could be approved and widely adopted in the country’s agriculture sector.