By Conrad Onyango, Bird Story Agency
Morocco has begun exploring the use of cannabis in animal feeds as demand for organic and antibiotic-free poultry products rises in one of Africa’s largest poultry markets.
Early January, Morocco’s cannabis regulator, the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis-Related Activities (ANRAC), rolled out a 10-month research programme to test the use of Cannabidiol (CBD), said to be a non-intoxicating compound from the cannabis plant in poultry feeds.
The ANRAC signed an agreement with Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine to conduct the study.
If successful, a CBD-based feed formulation will be developed to support a gradual shift away from growth-stimulating antibiotics, which are increasingly being restricted in Morocco amid concerns about food safety and public health linked to antimicrobial resistance.
“The Veterinary Medicine Department at the institute will lead the research. It will study the role of the cannabis molecule in improving gut health in poultry, strengthening their immune systems, and increasing productivity in chicken farming,” Morocco World News reported in reference to a statement shared by ANRAC.
Preliminary studies have suggested that cannabis by-products could reduce mortality, improve the meat quality and gut health of poultry, without intoxicating or harming growth.
In what authorities described as the country’s first scientific study of its kind, researchers will also assess the economic impact of CBD feed additives on farm profitability.
The demand for premium poultry products is increasing, driven by consumers willing to pay more for organic, free-range, and branded options. These trends reflect a shift in consumer preferences toward higher-quality, ethically sourced products.
Morocco legalised cannabis cultivation for medical, cosmetic, and industrial purposes in 2021, opening space for controlled research and innovation across the value chain while maintaining strict oversight.
Across Africa, several countries are also opening up to the legalisation of cannabis for various uses, though cautiously. According to Medical Use of Cannabis in Africa: The Pharmacists’ Perspective, published by the National Library of Medicine, nine African countries have passed different laws to regulate cannabis cultivation, processing, storage, recreational usage, sales, export, and distribution.
Lesotho was the continent’s pioneer, legalising medical cannabis cultivation in 2017 and issuing licences for commercial production and export. Zimbabwe followed with a regulated framework allowing cannabis for medical and scientific use. In South Africa, private adult use has been decriminalised through court rulings, while medical cannabis and industrial hemp production are permitted under licence, making it one of Africa’s most advanced markets for research and cultivation.
Malawi has legalized cannabis for medicinal and industrial use with an export focus, while Zambia and Rwanda have approved medical cannabis cultivation primarily for international markets under strict state controls.
Eswatini has also emerged as an early exporter after legalising medical cannabis cultivation through a licensing system. Ghana has amended its narcotics laws to allow the cultivation of low-THC cannabis for industrial hemp, with medical applications under development.
Despite these reforms, recreational cannabis remains illegal across most of the continent, and regulatory approaches remain conservative.
This story has been republished from Bird Story Agency: https://agency.birdstoryagency.com/stories/morocco-tests-cannabis-feed-to-cut-antibiotics-in-poultry?locale=en
