Yet Another Study Links Cannabis Use to Reduced Alcohol Intake

Patients seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) significantly reduce their alcohol intake when they are provided cannabis, according to data published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

Canadian investigators assessed the relationship between cannabis and alcohol in a cohort of 35 patients enrolled at a residential Managed Alcohol Program (MAP). Study participants were offered the choice of a 0.4-gram cannabis cigarette (16 to 22 percent THC) or their typical prescribed alcohol dose. (Cannabis is legal for adult-use and medical purposes in Canada.)

Consistent with prior studies, participants consumed fewer alcoholic drinks on days when they used cannabis. Specifically, participants “consumed a mean of 8.08 daily MAP-provided standard drinks prior to the introduction of cannabis substitution and a mean of 6.45 daily MAP-provided standard drinks after its introduction.”

“Participants who used more cannabis on average also consumed less alcohol overall,” the study’s authors concluded. “Expanding harm reduction strategies by integrating cannabis substitution could provide individuals with greater choice in managing their alcohol use and increased access to tailored interventions may enhance autonomy, stability, and empowerment, ultimately reducing alcohol-related harms.”

The findings are consistent with those of two other studies published earlier this year. A study published in September in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence reported that subjects in a laboratory setting reduced their intake of alcoholic beverages by 25 percent following cannabis inhalation. Another study, published in November, similarly reported that participants reduce their alcohol intake by as much as 27 percent following cannabis consumption.

Commenting on the findings, NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: “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.”

According to survey data published in 2024 in The Harm Reduction Journal, 60 percent of cannabis consumers say that their cannabis use results in less frequent alcohol consumption. More recent data published in November in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reports that adults who reside in proximity to licensed cannabis retailers are less likely to engage in binge drinking.

Data from jurisdictions with regulated cannabis markets typically show declining alcohol sales following legalization. Specifically, a study published this summer in the journal Addiction identified sustained declines in Californians’ weekly drinking patterns, as well as in how often they engaged in heavy episodic drinking, following legalization. In Canada, alcohol sales have similarly declined following the adoption of adult-use marijuana legalization.

The full text of the study, “Evaluating cannabis substitution for alcohol within the context of a Canadian Managed Alcohol Program,” appears online in the International Journal of Drug Policy.