Going California Sober: Study Indicates Marijuana May Assist in Reducing Drinking Intake
Emerging research published in the prestigious psychiatry journal proposes that embracing a sober lifestyle involving cannabis approach could significantly assist people lower their alcohol consumption.
The Study and Bar Lab Setting
Researchers from Brown University conducted a unique study where volunteers were provided with marijuana joints to smoke before visiting a specially designed “bar lab”.
- Subjects could choose to drink up to 8 mini alcoholic beverages.
- The experiment was conducted three separate times with different tetrahydrocannabinol potencies: high potency, 3.1%, and a 0.03% cannabis.
Significant effort was taken to replicate a real-life bar atmosphere, complete with low light and beer taps to guarantee participant realism.
“Our goal was to make sure that when given the opportunity, you would be highly motivated to consume alcohol,” explained the principal investigator.
Significant Results and Impact on Drinking
Results showed a marked decrease in alcohol intake after participants smoked marijuana:
- Drink intake dropped by nineteen percent after using moderate-THC cannabis.
- The drop was more pronounced with 7.2% THC marijuana, leading to a twenty-seven percent decrease compared to the placebo.
Wider Trends and Future Research
Increased legalization has spurred a significant rise in marijuana consumption, which has doubled over the past decade.
Meanwhile, drink use is at a record low, with numerous individuals turning to substitutes like weed.
It is important to note that forty percent of trial participants were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.
While marijuana might be a potential alternative to excessive drinking, researchers warn that further study is needed.
“We’re not ready to advise people in treatment for alcohol, ‘Go ahead and replace marijuana, and it will be effective for you,’” a study author noted.
