Researchers affiliated with Brown University’s School of Public Health assessed whether cannabis use influenced subjects’ desire for alcohol. Study participants had a history of alcohol and cannabis use. Subjects randomly inhaled herbal cannabis containing either 7.2 percent THC, 3.1 percent THC, or 0.3 percent THC (placebo). Researchers then assessed how much alcohol participants consumed over the following two hours.
Study participants significantly reduced their alcohol intake following the inhalation of low and moderately potent cannabis, but not after consuming the placebo. Specifically, those participants consuming cannabis containing 3.1 percent THC decreased their alcohol consumption by 19 percent relative to placebo. Those consuming cannabis containing 7.2 percent THC decreased their consumption by 27 percent relative to placebo.
