A new mouse study indicates that the cannabinoid CBD lowers binge drinking rates and blood alcohol concentrations.
Using what they called a “murine drinking-in-the-dark” research model, scientists at the University of Sydney investigated the theory that non-intoxicating cannabidiol could mitigate problematic drinking issues.
The paper concluded that “These studies consistently demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of alcohol consumption” by CBD. The efficacy was sustained for several months and maintained even after subchronic treatment. It was also not linked to locomotor impairments.
The study, published in the journal British Journal of Pharmacology with funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, found that “CBD represents a promising candidate to reduce voluntary alcohol consumption.”
It is unclear what mechanisms are responsible for CBD’s alcohol related effects. They may include polypharmacology and actions at multiple levels. [neuropeptide S receptor] “The present study has identified a number of potential causes,” the researchers stated.
The present results showed that CBD inhibited binge-like consumption of ethanol in both male and female mouse. This effect was also supported by [blood ethanol concentration] CBD suppressed drinking with acute administration, and the effect was maintained when CBD was administered sub-chronically. This indicates that tolerance is not a factor. CBD reduced drinking when administered acutely, but the effect remained even after CBD administration was subchronically.
According to the report, CBD presents a promising new pharmacotherapy in problematic alcohol abuse. But how CBD creates alcohol-related benefit is still unknown. Unraveling CBD’s mechanism may lead to the development safer and more effective [alcohol use disorder] therapeutics.”
A separate study, published in Molecular Psychiatry journal, also showed that a single dose of 800 milligrams of CBD could help people with alcohol abuse disorder manage their alcohol cravings. This supports the idea of using the cannabis component to treat problem drinkers.
A federally-funded study published in the last month on cannabis and alcohol consumption found that those who consumed marijuana before alcohol consumed less alcohol, as well as reporting lower alcohol cravings.
The study follows a separate survey analysis published in March that found that three in four young adults reported substituting cannabis for alcohol at least once per week—a “fast-emerging” trend that reflects the “rapid expansion” of the hemp product marketplace.
The report from Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) found that, across various demographics, cannabis is increasingly being used as an alternative to alcohol and even non-alcoholic beverages as more companies—including major multi-state marijuana operators (MSOs)—expand their offerings.
The findings were largely consist with a growing body of studies indicating that cannabis—whether federally legal hemp or still-prohibited marijuana—is being utilized as a substitute for many Americans amid the reform movement.
An earlier survey from YouGov, for example, found that a majority of Americans believe regular alcohol consumption is more harmful than regular marijuana use. However, despite health concerns, many adults prefer to drink alcohol over cannabis.
A separate poll released in January determined that more than half of marijuana consumers say they drink less alcohol, or none at all, after using cannabis.
Yet another survey—which was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and released in December—found that young adults are nearly three times more likely to use marijuana than alcohol on a daily or near-daily basis.
That poll provided more granular, age-specific findings than a similar report published last year, finding that more Americans overall smoke marijuana on a daily basis than drink alcohol every day—and that alcohol drinkers are more likely to say they would benefit from limiting their use than cannabis consumers are.
A separate study published in the journal Addiction last year similarly found that there are more U.S. adults who use marijuana daily than who drink alcohol every day.
In December, BI also published the results of a survey indicating that substitution of cannabis for alcohol is “soaring” as the state-level legalization movement expands and relative perceptions of harm shift. In that same poll, a significant number of Americans said that they also substituted marijuana for painkillers and cigarettes.
Another BI analysis from last September projected that the expansion of the marijuana legalization movement will continue to post a “significant threat” to the alcohol industry, citing survey data that suggests more people are using cannabis as a substitute for alcoholic beverages such a beer and wine.
Yet another study on the impact of marijuana consumption on people’s use of other drugs that was released in December suggested that, for many, cannabis may act as a less-dangerous substitute, allowing people to reduce their intake of substances such as alcohol, methamphetamine and opioids like morphine.
A study out of Canada, where marijuana is federally legal, found that legalization was “associated with a decline in beer sales,” suggesting a substitution effect.
Other recent surveys have also examined American opinions on alcohol and marijuana. For example, a Gallup survey found that respondents view cannabis as less harmful than alcohol, tobacco and nicotine vapes—and more adults now smoke cannabis than smoke cigarettes.
A separate survey released by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and Morning Consult last June also found that Americans consider marijuana to be significantly less dangerous than cigarettes, alcohol and opioids—and they say cannabis is less addictive than each of those substances, as well as technology.
Meanwhile, a leading alcohol industry association is calling on Congress to dial back language in a House committee-approved spending bill that would ban most consumable hemp products, instead proposing to maintain the legalization of naturally derived cannabinoids from the crop and only prohibit synthetic items.
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