In addition, cannabinoids in fed industrial hemp can migrate into cow’s milk, according to a study published Tuesday in Berlin by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). “Significant amounts of health benefits” of the psychoactive ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids were found in the milk.
The so-called acute reference dose of 0.001 milligrams of THC per kilogram of body weight can be significantly exceeded in humans and especially in children. The reference dose indicates the estimated maximum amount of THC that can be ingested over the course of a day with no apparent health risk. However, according to current knowledge, no high THC content in cow’s milk is to be expected in Germany due to the legal framework.
The research started more than ten years ago. At the time, there was evidence in the European Union that cannabinoids in fed hemp can migrate to cow’s milk, but reliable data was not available at the time. For its research, the BfR examined ten dairy cows that were fed varying amounts of industrial hemp silage in their feed rations.
At a relatively high concentration of cannabinoids, the behavior of the animals changed significantly. From the second day, the cows ate less and gave less milk. Breathing and heart rate slowed, the cows became drowsy, unable to move, there was increased salivation, tongue play and reddening of the eyes. Shortly after the start of the diet, health-significant amounts of THC and other cannabinoids were also detected in the milk.
(AFP)