Americans continue to consume less alcohol. Meanwhile, cannabis use is trending upward. But could the plant actually help people who want to stop drinking? A new study from Brown University may have the answer.
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The double-blind, randomized clinical trial looked at over 150 participants over three days. Participants were randomly selected to smoke cannabis containing 7.2 percent THC, 3.1 percent THC, or a placebo. The volunteers were then exposed to different alcohol consumption cues to see how they’d react.
Despite the relatively low THC concentration of 7.2 percent, there were measurable changes in drinking behavior. Participants who smoked cannabis drank significantly less alcohol and reported a reduced urge to drink. Researchers also noted that participants who had THC took longer to reach for their first sip of alcohol, delaying the start of their drinking.
“What we found was consistent with this idea of the substitution effect popularized by the California sober trend,” Jane Metrik, a professor of behavior and social sciences, told Brown University.
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This was the first study to look at the direct impact of cannabis on changes to alcohol consumption under laboratory conditions, unlike previous research that relied on surveys or self-reports.
While researchers emphasize that cannabis carries risks, this study offers evidence that marijuana may reduce alcohol consumption and even the urge to drink. However, researchers also note that this study only looked at one-time, acute cannabis use, not long-term patterns. There is no evidence in this study that cannabis use leads to lasting changes in drinking habits or would have an impact on one’s long-term sobriety.
The researchers noted that cannabis may actually increase drinking for people who tend to combine cannabis and alcohol to enhance the effects of each. To study this further, the team is conducting a new clinical trial to continue to answer the questions of the relationship between cannabis and alcohol.
Overall, the study offers promising preliminary evidence that cannabis may reduce the urge to drink alcohol, but more long-term data and studies are needed.