Going California Sober: Research Suggests Cannabis May Assist in Cutting Down Alcohol Intake

New research released in the prestigious psychiatry journal suggests that adopting a “California sober” approach might significantly assist people reduce their drink use.

The Study and Bar Lab Scenario

A team of Brown University carried out a novel experiment where participants were provided with cannabis cigarettes to smoke before visiting a carefully constructed simulated bar environment.

• Subjects could choose to consume up to eight mini alcoholic beverages.
• The trial was conducted three separate times with varying THC potencies: high potency, moderate potency, and a placebo cannabis.

Great care was taken to mimic a real-life bar environment, complete with low light and beer taps to guarantee participant realism.

“We wanted to ensure that when given the opportunity, you would be really driven to consume alcohol,” explained the lead researcher.

Key Findings and Effects on Alcohol Use

Results showed a marked reduction in drink intake after participants used cannabis:

• Alcohol consumption dropped by nineteen percent after consuming moderate-THC marijuana.
• Reduction was more significant with high-THC cannabis, leading to a 27% decrease versus the placebo.

Wider Trends and Future Research

Increased legalization has driven a significant rise in cannabis consumption, which has increased twofold over the last ten years.

Meanwhile, drink consumption is at a record low, with many opting for substitutes like weed.

It is important to note that 40% of study participants met the criteria for alcohol dependence.

While cannabis might be a potential alternative to heavy alcohol use, researchers caution that more research is required.

“We’re not ready to advise individuals seeking treatment for drinking problems, ‘Go ahead and substitute cannabis, and it will be effective for you,’” a study author noted.