Going California Sober: Research Suggests Marijuana May Help Reducing Drinking Consumption
Emerging scientific investigation published in the prestigious psychiatry journal suggests that embracing a sober lifestyle involving cannabis approach could substantially assist people lower their alcohol use.
Research Methodology and Controlled Environment Scenario
A team of Brown University conducted a novel experiment where participants were provided with marijuana joints to smoke before entering a carefully constructed simulated bar environment.
- Subjects had the option to drink up to 8 small drinks.
- The experiment was conducted three separate times with different tetrahydrocannabinol potencies: high potency, 3.1%, and a placebo cannabis.
Great care was taken to mimic a authentic bar atmosphere, complete with dim lighting and beer taps to guarantee subject authenticity.
“Our goal was to ensure that when presented with the chance, you would be really driven to drink,” explained the principal investigator.
Significant Results and Effects on Alcohol Use
Outcomes showed a notable reduction in drink consumption after participants smoked marijuana:
- Alcohol intake dropped by nineteen percent after using 3.1% THC cannabis.
- The drop was even more significant with 7.2% THC marijuana, leading to a twenty-seven percent reduction compared to the placebo.
Wider Trends and Future Research
Increased legal access has driven a major surge in marijuana consumption, which has doubled over the past decade.
Meanwhile, drink consumption is at a record low, with many turning to alternatives like marijuana.
Crucial to note that forty percent of trial participants were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.
Although cannabis might be a potential alternative to heavy alcohol use, researchers warn that further study is required.
“It is premature to advise people seeking treatment for alcohol, ‘Proceed and replace marijuana, and it will work out for you,’” the lead researcher noted.
