California Sober: Research Indicates Marijuana Could Assist in Reducing Drinking Intake
New research published in the prestigious psychiatry journal proposes that adopting a sober lifestyle involving cannabis method could significantly assist people lower their drink use.
Research Methodology and Bar Lab Scenario
A team of Brown University conducted a novel experiment where participants received cannabis cigarettes to consume before entering a specially designed simulated bar environment.
- Subjects could choose to consume up to eight small drinks.
- The experiment was conducted three separate times with varying tetrahydrocannabinol potencies: high potency, 3.1%, and a 0.03% marijuana.
Great care was taken to mimic a authentic bar atmosphere, complete with low light and drinks on tap to guarantee participant realism.
“We wanted to make sure that when presented with the chance, you would be really driven to drink,” explained the principal investigator.
Significant Results and Impact on Alcohol Use
Outcomes revealed a notable reduction in drink consumption after subjects used cannabis:
- Drink consumption fell by nineteen percent after consuming moderate-THC cannabis.
- The drop was even more pronounced with 7.2% THC marijuana, leading to a twenty-seven percent decrease versus the control.
Wider Trends and Future Research
Expanded legalization has spurred a major surge in marijuana usage, which has increased twofold over the past decade.
At the same time, drink use is at a historic low, with many turning to alternatives like marijuana.
It is important to note that forty percent of trial subjects were diagnosed with alcohol dependence.
Although cannabis could serve as a possible alternative to heavy alcohol use, scientists caution that further study is needed.
“We’re not ready to advise people seeking treatment for alcohol, ‘Proceed and replace cannabis, and it will work out for you,’” a study author noted.