🔗 Share this article

Emerging research published in the prestigious psychiatry journal proposes that adopting a sober lifestyle involving cannabis approach could significantly help individuals lower their drink consumption.

The Study and Controlled Environment Setting

A team of Brown University conducted a novel experiment where participants received marijuana joints to smoke before entering a carefully constructed “bar lab”.

• Participants could choose to consume up to eight small drinks.
• The experiment was conducted three separate times with different tetrahydrocannabinol levels: high potency, moderate potency, and a placebo marijuana.

Significant effort was taken to mimic a authentic bar environment, complete with low light and drinks on tap to guarantee subject realism.

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

Key Findings and Effects on Drinking

Outcomes revealed a marked decrease in drink intake after subjects used marijuana:

• Drink intake dropped by nineteen percent after using 3.1% THC marijuana.
• Reduction was more significant with high-THC marijuana, leading to a 27% reduction compared to the control.

Wider Trends and Additional Studies

Expanded legal access has spurred a significant rise in cannabis consumption, which has increased twofold over the last ten years.

At the same time, alcohol consumption is at a historic low, with many turning to substitutes like weed.

It is important to note that forty percent of trial subjects were diagnosed with alcohol dependence.

While marijuana might be a possible solution to heavy alcohol use, scientists caution that more research is needed.

“It is premature to tell people seeking treatment for alcohol, ‘Proceed and substitute cannabis, and it will be effective for you,’” a study author commented.