Going California Sober: Research Suggests Marijuana May Assist in Cutting Down Drinking Intake
Emerging research released in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that embracing a “California sober” approach could significantly help individuals lower their drink consumption.
The Study and Bar Lab Scenario
Researchers from Brown University conducted a unique experiment where volunteers were provided with marijuana joints to consume before visiting a carefully constructed simulated bar environment.
- Participants had the option to drink up to eight mini alcoholic beverages.
- The experiment was repeated three separate times with different THC levels: high potency, moderate potency, and a 0.03% cannabis.
Great care was taken to mimic a real-life bar environment, complete with low light and beer taps to ensure subject realism.
“Our goal was to ensure that when given the opportunity, you would be really driven to consume alcohol,” explained the principal investigator.
Key Findings and Effects on Drinking
Results revealed a notable decrease in drink consumption after subjects used cannabis:
- Drink intake dropped by 19% after using moderate-THC marijuana.
- Reduction was even more significant with 7.2% THC marijuana, leading to a 27% decrease compared to the placebo.
Wider Trends and Future Research
Increased legal access has driven a significant rise in cannabis consumption, which has doubled over the last ten years.
Meanwhile, alcohol consumption is at a historic low, with many opting for substitutes like marijuana.
Crucial to note that forty percent of trial subjects were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.
Although cannabis could serve as a possible solution to heavy drinking, researchers caution that further study is needed.
“It is premature to tell individuals in treatment for drinking problems, ‘Proceed and substitute marijuana, and it will be effective for you,’” the lead researcher commented.
