According to Recent Study, Cannabis Smoking Connected to Decreased Alcohol Consumption

A recent clinical trial, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (1), investigated the connection between cannabis smoking and reduced intake of alcohol. Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island) researchers looked into how using cannabis could affect a subjects’ interest with alcohol (2).The 157 participants included in the study consisted of having a history of cannabis and alcohol use. During the clinical trial, subjects were randomized where they smoked cannabis cigarettes that were composed of 7.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 3.1% THC, or 0.03% THC, which was the placebo option. Following cannabis consumption, the participants were exposed to “neutral and personalized alcohol cues” and were then given an alcohol choice task for self-administration of the alcohol (1). Participants were analyzed over the course of two hours to see how much alcohol they would consume (2).

To gather the data, researchers utilized the “Alcohol Choice Task, a well-established laboratory test of drinking behavior that the team conducted in a room designed to resemble a bar. Participants were offered servings of their preferred alcoholic beverage on a tray and could choose either to drink or to earn small cash payments for each drink they declined. The payments were deliberately small to provide a subtle alternative to drinking without meaningfully swaying participant choices. During each two-hour session, participants were provided with enough alcohol to raise their blood alcohol level to about 0.10%, which is above the legal intoxication limit in many states,” (3).

Results from the clinical trial expressed that post-consumption of low and moderate potency cannabis decreased study participants amount of alcohol they consumed. This was specific to study subjects that consumed cannabis that consisted of 3.1% THC. These participants lowered their alcohol consumption by 19% when compared to the placebo (2). Participants that received cannabis cigarettes that were comprised of 7.2% THC, lowered their alcohol consumption by 27% compared to the placebo.

NORML reported that “Participants who consumed higher THC flower also reported less of a desire for alcohol and waited longer before consuming their first drink as compared to those who consumed either low-potency cannabis or placebo,” (2).

“We found that smoked cannabis with 3.1 percent and 7.2 percent THC doses acutely decreased alcohol consumption and increased latency to drink under controlled laboratory conditions, relative to placebo,” the study’s authors concluded (1,2). “The findings suggest that smoked cannabis reduces alcohol consumption and, conversely, acute cannabis deprivation (For example, in the placebo condition) may lead to compensatory increases in alcohol intake.”

Additionally, the study’s authors mentioned that (1), “Following overnight cannabis abstinence, smoking cannabis acutely decreased alcohol consumption compared to placebo. Further controlled research on a variety of cannabinoids is needed to inform clinical alcohol treatment guidelines.”

In Brown University’s press release (2,3), Jane Metrik, a professor of behavioral and social sciences and of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University said, “What we found was consistent with this idea of the substitution effect popularized by the California sober trend. Instead of seeing cannabis increase craving and drinking, we saw the opposite. Cannabis reduced the urge for alcohol in the moment, lowered how much alcohol people consumed over a two-hour period and even delayed when they started drinking once the alcohol was available.”

“We saw that cannabis reduces the urge in the moment,” Metrik added. “What we don't know from this study is what is the long-term effect.”

NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano expressed that, “These findings provide support for the idea that legal cannabis can serve as substitute for alcohol among certain individuals, and that legal cannabis markets may, in some instances, disrupt alcohol-dominant marketplaces,” (2).

The press release explained that “The researchers caution that the results of the study don’t mean that cannabis should be recommended as a therapeutic substitute for alcohol. They emphasized that cannabis itself can be addictive and that — just as is the case is for alcohol — there is risk for progressing to problematic use of cannabis, as well,” (3).

Low-THC Hemp Beverages Linked to Decrease in Alcohol Consumption

MoreBetter Ltd, an organization that works with real-world data and public health research, recently conducted a national study that discovered that “low-dose hemp-derived infused beverages are linked to improved well-being, reduced alcohol use, and minimal impairment,” (4).

In regard to the FY 2026 Agriculture–FDA Appropriations Bill and with the release of data from this study, has linked a connection between low dose hemp beverages and “measurable” public health benefits (4,5). MoreBetter Ltd, is encouraging for lawmakers to look over the data before moving to vote for hemp language in the omnibus package that will restrict the industry.

“The data show that adults are using hemp beverages responsibly to relax, reduce alcohol consumption, and feel better without high levels of intoxication,” said Kevin Provost, CEO of MoreBetter Ltd (5). “Banning these products now would erase years of harm-reduction progress and contradict the Real World Evidence that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Congress claim to rely on.”

As mentioned in the press release, key findings from the study included (4,5):

• Well-being: WHO-5 scores (overall well-being) increased from 42.93 at baseline to 52.67 at day 21 — a +9.74-point (+22.7%) improvement, exceeding the minimally important difference threshold for clinical significance.
• Psychological distress: DASS results showed substantial reductions — Depression −50.7% (8.15→4.02), Stress −45.0% (11.06→6.08), and Anxiety −48.8% (4.73→2.42) indicating broad mood stabilization.
• Alcohol use: The probability of daily alcohol consumption decreased 12.7 points (from 32.9% to 20.1%), while the likelihood of heavy use (3+ drinks/day) dropped 38% to 25%.
• Intoxication & hangover: Participants were generally unlikely to report intoxication. Among all reports of feeling intoxicated (N = 3,252), 98.3% described effects as barely noticeable to manageable, and 95.8% reported no hangover symptoms the next day.
• Dose–risk context: Average daily consumption (~6.6 mg THC; ~11.6 mg total cannabinoids) corresponded to a very low predicted probability of negative events (4% and 7%, respectively). While risk increased modestly with combined alcohol or cannabis use, infused beverage–only use consistently showed the lowest risk profile.
• Health safety perception: 77% of participants rated hemp beverages as safer or much safer than alcohol

References

1. Metrik J, Aston ER, Gunn RL, Swift R, MacKillop J, Kahler CW. Acute Effects of Cannabis on Alcohol Craving and Consumption: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2025 Nov 19:appiajp20250115. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20250115. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41254853.
2. Norml. Cannabis smoking linked to significantly reduced alcohol intake https://norml.org/blog/2025/11/19/clinical-trial-cannabis-smoking-linked-to-significantly-reduced-alcohol-intake/ (accessed Nov 20, 2025).
3. Siliezar, J. As “california sober” catches on, study suggests cannabis use reduces short-term alcohol consumption https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-11-19/cannabis-alcohol (accessed Nov 20, 2025).
4. MoreBetter. National Study warns Congress: Hemp beverage ban would eliminate safer alternatives to alcohol https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-study-warns-congress-hemp-beverage-ban-would-eliminate-safer-alternatives-to-alcohol-302611568.html (accessed Nov 20, 2025).
5. Colli, M. Study shows low-THC hemp beverages decrease alcohol consumption as senate hemp legislation looms https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/study-shows-low-thc-hemp-beverages-decrease-alcohol-consumption-as-senate-hemp-legislation-looms (accessed Nov 20, 2025).