California Sober: Study Indicates Marijuana Could Help Reducing Alcohol Intake
Emerging scientific investigation released in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that adopting a “California sober” method could significantly assist people lower their alcohol consumption.
The Study and Bar Lab Setting
A team of Brown University conducted a unique experiment where participants were provided with cannabis cigarettes to smoke before visiting a carefully constructed simulated bar environment.
- Participants had the option to consume up to eight mini alcoholic beverages.
- The experiment was repeated on three occasions with varying THC levels: high potency, 3.1%, and a 0.03% marijuana.
Great care was taken to replicate a authentic bar environment, complete with dim lighting and beer taps to guarantee subject realism.
“We wanted to make sure that when presented with the chance, you would be really driven to drink,” stated the principal investigator.
Key Findings and Impact on Alcohol Use
Results revealed a marked decrease in alcohol intake after participants used marijuana:
- Alcohol consumption dropped by 19% after consuming 3.1% THC marijuana.
- The drop was even more pronounced with high-THC marijuana, leading to a 27% decrease versus the control.
Wider Trends and Additional Studies
Expanded legal access has spurred a major surge in marijuana usage, which has doubled over the last ten years.
At the same time, alcohol use is at a historic low, with many turning to alternatives like marijuana.
It is important to note that forty percent of study participants met the criteria for alcohol dependence.
Although cannabis might be a potential alternative to excessive alcohol use, scientists caution that further study is needed.
“We’re not ready to tell individuals in treatment for alcohol, ‘Proceed and replace cannabis, and it will work out for you,’” the lead researcher noted.
