‘California sober’: marijuana may help you drink less, study finds | Cannabis

“Getting sober in California” may actually help you stay away from alcohol, according to a new study. research It was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

A team of Brown University researchers conducted a study in which participants were given marijuana to smoke and then sent to a controlled “bar lab” where they were given the option of having up to eight mini-alcoholic beverages. The experiment was conducted three separate times: once with 7.2% THC marijuana, once with 3.1% THC marijuana, and once with 0.03% THC marijuana, which was considered a placebo.

A key component of the work was a replica of a real-life bar, complete with dark lighting and drinks on tap.

Jane Metrik, professor of behavioral and social sciences at Brown University, who conducted the research, emphasized the importance of authenticity for the participants: I tell NPR “We wanted to make sure that you would actually be willing to drink when given the opportunity.”

The results revealed that participants’ alcohol consumption dropped by 19% after smoking marijuana containing 3.1% THC. The decrease was even more pronounced after smoking higher potency 7.2% THC marijuana; participants drank 27% less alcohol compared to placebo.

Expanded legalization efforts have led to a massive increase in marijuana use; According to a study, its consumption has doubled in the last 10 years. 2024 Gallup survey. Alcohol consumption is at a record low and many people are turning to alternatives like weed. However, 40% of participants in Brown’s trial met criteria for alcohol use disorder.

While marijuana may be a potential solution to binge drinking, Metrik acknowledged that more research needs to be done.

“We’re not ready to tell people in alcohol treatment, ‘Go ahead, replace the marijuana, it’ll work for you,'” he said.