Going California Sober: Study Indicates Marijuana May Help Reducing Drinking Intake
New research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that adopting a sober lifestyle involving cannabis approach might substantially assist people lower their drink consumption.
Research Methodology and Bar Lab Setting
A team of Brown University conducted a unique study where participants were provided with cannabis cigarettes to consume before visiting a carefully constructed simulated bar environment.
- Participants could choose to drink up to 8 mini alcoholic beverages.
- The experiment was repeated three separate times with varying THC levels: 7.2%, moderate potency, and a 0.03% marijuana.
Great care was taken to replicate a real-life bar atmosphere, complete with low light and drinks on tap to ensure subject authenticity.
“We wanted to ensure that when presented with the chance, you would be highly motivated to consume alcohol,” explained the principal investigator.
Significant Results and Impact on Alcohol Use
Results showed a notable reduction in drink consumption after participants used marijuana:
- Drink intake dropped by nineteen percent after using 3.1% THC cannabis.
- The drop was even more pronounced with high-THC cannabis, leading to a twenty-seven percent decrease compared to the placebo.
Broader Context and Additional Studies
Expanded legal access has spurred a significant rise in cannabis consumption, which has doubled over the past decade.
Meanwhile, drink consumption is at a record low, with numerous individuals turning to substitutes like weed.
Crucial to note that forty percent of trial subjects were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.
While cannabis could serve as a possible solution to excessive alcohol use, scientists caution that further research is needed.
“We’re not ready to advise people seeking treatment for alcohol, ‘Proceed and substitute marijuana, and it will work out for you,’” a study author noted.
