Going California Sober: Study Suggests Cannabis Could Assist in Cutting Down Drinking Consumption
Emerging research released in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that adopting a “California sober” approach might substantially help individuals lower their drink use.
The Study and Controlled Environment Setting
A team of Brown University conducted a novel study where participants received cannabis cigarettes to smoke before entering a carefully constructed “bar lab”.
- Participants could choose to consume up to 8 mini alcoholic beverages.
- The trial was conducted three separate times with different THC levels: high potency, 3.1%, and a placebo cannabis.
Significant effort was taken to replicate a real-life bar environment, 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.
Key Findings and Effects on Alcohol Use
Results revealed a notable decrease in alcohol consumption after subjects smoked marijuana:
- Drink consumption fell by nineteen percent after consuming moderate-THC marijuana.
- Reduction was more significant with high-THC marijuana, leading to a 27% reduction compared to the control.
Wider Trends and Future Research
Expanded legal access has spurred a major surge in cannabis usage, which has doubled over the last ten years.
At the same time, alcohol use is at a historic low, with numerous individuals opting for alternatives like marijuana.
Crucial to note that 40% of study subjects were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.
Although cannabis could serve as a potential solution to excessive drinking, researchers warn that more study is required.
“It is premature to advise people in treatment for drinking problems, ‘Go ahead and replace cannabis, and it will work out for you,’” a study author noted.
