Going California Sober: Research Suggests Cannabis Could Assist in Reducing Alcohol Consumption
New scientific investigation released in the prestigious psychiatry journal suggests that adopting a sober lifestyle involving cannabis method could significantly help individuals lower their drink use.
Research Methodology and Bar Lab Scenario
Researchers from Brown University conducted a unique experiment where volunteers were provided with cannabis cigarettes to smoke before entering a specially designed simulated bar environment.
- Subjects could choose to consume up to 8 mini alcoholic beverages.
- The experiment was conducted three separate times with different tetrahydrocannabinol levels: high potency, moderate potency, and a 0.03% cannabis.
Great care was taken to mimic a real-life bar atmosphere, complete with low light and drinks on tap to guarantee participant realism.
“We wanted to make sure that when given the opportunity, you would be really driven to consume alcohol,” explained the principal investigator.
Significant Results and Impact on Alcohol Use
Results showed a notable decrease in drink consumption after participants smoked cannabis:
- Drink intake fell by nineteen percent after using 3.1% THC marijuana.
- The drop was even more significant with 7.2% THC marijuana, leading to a 27% decrease compared to the control.
Wider Trends and Future Research
Increased legal access has driven a major surge in marijuana usage, which has doubled over the last ten years.
At the same time, alcohol consumption is at a record low, with numerous individuals turning to alternatives like marijuana.
Crucial to note that 40% of trial subjects met the criteria for alcohol dependence.
Although marijuana might be a potential solution to excessive alcohol use, scientists caution that more research is needed.
“We’re not ready to tell individuals seeking treatment for drinking problems, ‘Go ahead and substitute cannabis, and it will be effective for you,’” the lead researcher noted.
