A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence finds that cannabis could help reduce alcohol intake among some heavy drinkers.
Researchers from Colorado State University and the University of Colorado Boulder conducted the first controlled laboratory experiment examining the effects of legal-market cannabis on drinking behavior.
The study involved 61 adults who regularly use both alcohol and cannabis. Participants attended two sessions: one where they consumed an alcohol priming drink alone, and another where they consumed the same drink after using cannabis. They were then given the option to drink up to four additional alcoholic beverages.
Results showed that cannabis use was linked to a decrease in the number of drinks consumed. Notably, 23 participants, referred to as “substituters,” drank less after using cannabis and also reported reduced cravings compared to when they drank alcohol alone. In contrast, participants who consumed the same or more alcohol after cannabis did not report significant changes in craving.
The findings indicate that cannabis may act as a substitute for alcohol in some individuals, with reduced craving potentially driving the effect. Researchers note that more work is needed to understand who is most likely to benefit from this substitution and whether it translates into long-term reductions in alcohol use.
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