Going California Sober: Study Suggests Marijuana May Assist in Reducing Drinking Intake
Emerging scientific investigation released in the American Journal of Psychiatry proposes that adopting a “California sober” method could significantly assist people reduce their alcohol consumption.
The Study and Bar Lab Scenario
Researchers from Brown University carried out a unique study where volunteers were provided with marijuana joints to smoke before visiting a specially designed simulated bar environment.
- Subjects could choose to drink up to 8 mini alcoholic beverages.
- The experiment was conducted on three occasions with varying THC potencies: high potency, moderate potency, and a placebo marijuana.
Great care was taken to replicate a real-life bar atmosphere, complete with low light and drinks on tap to guarantee participant authenticity.
“We wanted to ensure that when given the opportunity, you would be highly motivated to drink,” explained the principal investigator.
Key Findings and Effects on Drinking
Results revealed a notable reduction in drink consumption after subjects smoked cannabis:
- Drink intake fell by 19% after using 3.1% THC cannabis.
- The drop was even more pronounced with high-THC cannabis, leading to a 27% reduction compared to the control.
Wider Trends and Additional Studies
Expanded legalization has spurred a significant rise in cannabis usage, which has doubled over the last ten years.
Meanwhile, drink use is at a historic low, with many opting for alternatives like weed.
Crucial to note that 40% of study subjects were diagnosed with alcohol dependence.
Although marijuana might be a possible solution to excessive alcohol use, researchers caution that more research is required.
“It is premature to advise individuals in treatment for drinking problems, ‘Proceed and substitute marijuana, and it will work out for you,’” the lead researcher commented.
