Going California Sober: Study Indicates Marijuana Could Assist in Cutting Down Drinking Intake
Emerging scientific investigation released in the prestigious psychiatry journal suggests that embracing a “California sober” approach might significantly help individuals lower their drink consumption.
The Study and Controlled Environment Setting
Researchers from Brown University carried out a unique experiment where participants received cannabis cigarettes to smoke before visiting a carefully constructed “bar lab”.
- Participants had the option to drink up to eight small drinks.
- The trial was conducted three separate times with varying THC levels: high potency, moderate potency, and a placebo cannabis.
Great care was taken to replicate a real-life bar environment, complete with dim lighting and beer taps to ensure subject authenticity.
“Our goal was to ensure that when presented with the chance, you would be really driven to consume alcohol,” stated the principal investigator.
Significant Results and Impact on Alcohol Use
Results revealed a notable reduction in drink consumption after subjects smoked marijuana:
- Drink intake fell by nineteen percent after consuming moderate-THC marijuana.
- The drop was even more pronounced with 7.2% THC cannabis, leading to a twenty-seven percent reduction compared to the control.
Broader Context and Additional Studies
Increased legal access has driven a significant rise in cannabis usage, which has doubled over the last ten years.
At the same time, drink consumption is at a historic low, with numerous individuals turning to alternatives like marijuana.
Crucial to note that forty percent of trial subjects met the criteria for alcohol dependence.
While marijuana might be a potential solution to excessive drinking, scientists warn that further study is needed.
“It is premature to tell people in treatment for alcohol, ‘Go ahead and replace marijuana, and it will work out for you,’” the lead researcher noted.
