Going California Sober: Study Suggests Marijuana Could Help Cutting Down Drinking Consumption
Emerging research released in the American Journal of Psychiatry proposes that adopting a “California sober” method could substantially help individuals reduce their alcohol consumption.
Research Methodology and Controlled Environment Setting
A team of Brown University carried out a novel experiment where participants were provided with cannabis cigarettes to consume before entering a carefully constructed “bar lab”.
- Participants could choose to consume up to eight small drinks.
- The trial was repeated on three occasions with different tetrahydrocannabinol potencies: high potency, 3.1%, and a placebo marijuana.
Great care was taken to replicate a authentic bar atmosphere, complete with dim lighting and drinks on tap to ensure participant authenticity.
“Our goal was to ensure that when presented with the chance, you would be really driven to drink,” stated the principal investigator.
Significant Results and Effects on Drinking
Results revealed a marked reduction in drink consumption after subjects used marijuana:
- Alcohol consumption fell by nineteen percent after using 3.1% THC cannabis.
- Reduction was more significant with high-THC marijuana, leading to a 27% reduction compared to the control.
Broader Context and Future Research
Increased legal access has driven a major surge in cannabis usage, which has increased twofold over the last ten years.
Meanwhile, drink consumption is at a record low, with numerous individuals turning to alternatives like weed.
Crucial to note that forty percent of study participants were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.
Although marijuana could serve as a potential solution to excessive alcohol use, researchers caution that more research is required.
“It is premature to tell individuals seeking treatment for drinking problems, ‘Proceed and replace cannabis, and it will work out for you,’” the lead researcher commented.
