Going California Sober: Study Indicates Marijuana Could Assist in Reducing Drinking Consumption
New research released in the prestigious psychiatry journal suggests that adopting a “California sober” approach might significantly assist people lower their alcohol consumption.
The Study and Controlled Environment Scenario
Researchers from Brown University carried out a novel experiment where participants 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 trial was conducted on three occasions with varying tetrahydrocannabinol levels: high potency, moderate potency, and a 0.03% marijuana.
Significant effort was taken to replicate a authentic bar environment, complete with low light and beer taps to ensure subject authenticity.
“Our goal was to ensure that when given the opportunity, you would be highly motivated to consume alcohol,” stated the principal investigator.
Significant Results and Impact on Drinking
Results revealed a notable decrease in alcohol consumption after participants used marijuana:
- Alcohol intake dropped by 19% after using moderate-THC marijuana.
- The drop was more significant with 7.2% THC cannabis, leading to a twenty-seven percent decrease compared to the control.
Broader Context and Future Research
Expanded legal access has driven a major surge in marijuana usage, which has increased twofold over the last ten years.
At the same time, alcohol use is at a record low, with numerous individuals turning to alternatives like marijuana.
It is important to note that forty percent of trial subjects were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.
While marijuana could serve as a possible alternative to heavy alcohol use, scientists caution that further research is needed.
“We’re not ready to advise individuals in treatment for drinking problems, ‘Proceed and substitute marijuana, and it will work out for you,’” the lead researcher noted.
