In a recent incident near the town of Almyros in Thessaly, Greece, a flock of sheep made headlines when they broke into a greenhouse and consumed approximately 600 pounds of medical cannabis.

The incident was reported by Newsweek.

What Happened

The sheep's unusual foray into the world of cannabis was attributed to their search for refuge from the aftermath of the storm Daniel, which brought flooding to the region.

Despite the challenging flood conditions, it appeared that the sheep had found what they considered greener pastures within the greenhouse.

The rainstorm, which killed 17 people, was Greece's most intense since records began in 1930 and came after a summer of devastating wildfires.

See Also:

Farm owner Yannis Bourounis, in response to the incident, expressed a mix of emotions. "I don't know if it's for laughing or crying. We have the heat; we lose a lot of production. We have the floods; we lose the rest. And the best: After all this, a herd of sheep, which I don't know how to get back, entered the facility and started eating what was left." 

Bourounis also noted the sheep's unusual behavior, describing them as "jumping higher than goats."

Consequences Of Cannabis Ingestion On Animals

Greece legalized medical cannabis in 2017 and recently established its first medical cannabis production plant. Several international companies, including Canopy Growth Corp (NASDAQ:CGC) and Aphria Inc. (NASDAQ:APHA), have shown interest in investing in Greek cannabis production facilities.

However, incidents like these underscore the potential risks of animals consuming cannabis.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, cannabis poisoning cases among dogs, notably in the U.S., have seen an 11% increase in the past year and a staggering 300% rise over the last five years, reported the New York Post.

Read Next: Revolutionizing Cattle Feed? Hempseed Cake Is A Promising Alternative: USDA Study

Image by Sam Carter On Unsplash