People Drink ‘Significantly Less Alcohol’ After Smoking Marijuana, Federally Funded Study Shows

Smoking marijuana is associated with “significantly” reduced rates of alcohol consumption, according to a new federally funded study that involved adults smoking joints in a makeshift bar.

Researchers at Brown University investigated the science behind the trend that’s come to be known as “California sober,” referring to people who abstain from or limit the use of alcohol and most other drugs while still consuming cannabis.

According to the study, published on Wednesday in the American Journal of Psychiatry, smoking marijuana could actually be helping people moderate their drinking. That’s based on the findings of the researchers’ experiment, which involved 157 adults who reported heavy alcohol and cannabis use at least twice weekly and who were tasked with smoking joints in fabricated bar setting.

“What we found was consistent with this idea of the substitution effect popularized by the California sober trend,” Jane Metrik, a human behavior and psychiatry professor at Brown University, said in a press release. “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.”

The participants were given marijuana joints containing either 7.2 percent THC, 3.1 percent THC or 0.03 percent THC (the placebo). After smoking the cannabis, they were then exposed to “neutral and personalized alcohol cues and an alcohol choice task for alcohol self-administration.”

An alcohol cue assessment that the participants completed showed that those who smoked the two higher THC concentration joints “consumed significantly less alcohol,” with an average 27 percent reduction in drinking for those who received the 7.2 percent THC joint and 19 percent for the 3.1 percent THC cohort.

Researchers said that, for participants who smoked joints with 7.2 percent THC, that also “reduced alcohol urge immediately.”

“Following overnight cannabis abstinence, smoking cannabis acutely decreased alcohol consumption compared to placebo,” it found. “Further controlled research on a variety of cannabinoids is needed to inform clinical alcohol treatment guidelines.”

"California sober"—ditching alcohol in favor of #cannabis—is gaining popularity.🍸

Follow the link for the findings of the first ever, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to test whether smoking cannabis directly changes alcohol consumption⤵️ https://t.co/NnIB5Qwvxqpic.twitter.com/8FEvN8Nxcn

— Brown University School of Public Health (@Brown_SPH) November 19, 2025

The study authors said this represents the first placebo-controlled randomized trial that specifically looks at the acute effects of marijuana use on alcohol cravings and consumption for heavy users.

“Extending the latest scientific evidence, 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 authors said, adding that the effects of the non-placebo joints “were not statistically different from each other.”

“The findings suggest that smoked cannabis reduces alcohol consumption and, conversely, acute cannabis deprivation (i.e., in the placebo condition) may lead to compensatory increases in alcohol intake,” the study says.

“In concert with experimental investigations and studies demonstrating substitution effects, our findings support the substitution model of cannabis and alcohol co-use. In the absence of consistent effects of cannabis on alcohol craving, a possible mechanism whereby cannabis reduces alcohol consumption may be through satiation, such that participants may have reached their preferred experiential intoxication on one drug, which may have lowered desire for the other substance. The findings also suggest that individuals titrate their alcohol consumption based on their current state of intoxication to reach a desired level of overall intoxication.”

One theory the researchers put forward as to why cannabis use seems to inhibit alcohol consumption and cravings is that most participants were daily marijuana users. Because cannabinoids downregulate certain receptors in the endocannabinoid system, that may “functionally impair alcohol reward processing and alcohol motivation.”

The researchers also noted that, while their study involved cannabis flower with relatively lower concentrations of THC compared to what’s available in state medical and adult-use markets, the findings are still relevant, indicating that alcohol consumption and cravings could also be reduced for someone taking relatively fewer hits of high-THC varieties.

Further, the study notes that the cannabinoid concentration of marijuana flower and its formulation “could influence the direction of effect on alcohol-related outcomes.”

While this experiment focused on THC, prior research on animal models has indicated that non-intoxicating CBD is also associated with reduced alcohol use—and observational studies suggest that the use of CBD is associated with lower alcohol consumption compared to THC. Therefore, “smoking cannabis flower containing CBD could lead to even greater reductions in alcohol use.”

“The study findings demonstrate that smoked cannabis induced acute increases in subjective intoxication, affect, arousal, cardiovascular effects, blood THC concentrations, and acutely reduced alcohol consumption without a consistent effect on alcohol craving,” it says. “Notably, participants still consumed alcohol after smoking cannabis with THC, although they drank less than when they were not acutely intoxicated with THC. These data provide preliminary evidence that cannabis may reduce alcohol consumption under some conditions, but whether this would result in reductions in harms associated with simultaneous use is unknown.”

“Controlled human studies like this one can help address the dearth of empirical data on alcohol consumption in relation to cannabinoid use and shed light on the inconsistent findings from epidemiological studies. Clinical research is needed on the effects of a variety of cannabinoids and endocannabinoid targets used simultaneously with alcohol versus sequentially to evaluate clinically relevant alcohol outcomes. While there is growing recognition of the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids, it would be premature and potentially risky at this time to recommend cannabis as a therapeutic substitute for alcohol or as a harm-reduction strategy for AUD. For patients who are already substituting cannabis for alcohol, clinicians should provide guidance on the risks of cannabis use disorder, help monitor cannabis use, and continue recommending evidence-based alcohol treatments.”

Metrik said that what the research team found is that “cannabis reduces the urge in the moment,” but the long-term effect warrants further investigation.

“Our job as researchers is to continue to answer these questions,” she said. “We can’t tell anyone yet, ‘you should use cannabis as a substitute for problematic or heavy drinking.’”

The study received funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Cannabis plant material used in the study was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) through its drug supply program.

While the researchers say they’re not willing to say the study definitively proves marijuana should be considered as an alcohol alternative or treatment for alcoholism, the findings are consistent with a growing body of research indicating that cannabis does have that potential—and more people are opting for the plant over alcohol.

A study published earlier this month, for example, found that adults who drink cannabis-infused beverages has found more evidence of a “substitution effect,” with a significant majority of participants reporting reduced alcohol use after incorporating cannabinoid drinks into their routines.

A survey released last month also showed that four in five adults who drink cannabis-infused beverages say they’ve reduced their alcohol intake—and more than a fifth have quit drinking alcohol altogether.

Recent polling additionally shows that younger Americans are increasingly using cannabis-infused beverages as a substitute for alcohol—with one in three millennials and Gen Z workers choosing THC drinks over booze for after-work activities like happy hours.

Another poll released last month found that a majority of Americans believe marijuana represents a “healthier option” than alcohol—and most also expect cannabis to be legal in all 50 states within the next five years.

Trump’s Pick To Lead DEA Says Marijuana Rescheduling Review Will Be ‘One Of My First Priorities’ In The Job

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says examining a proposal to federally reschedule marijuana will be “one of my first priorities” if he’s confirmed for the role, saying it’s “time to move forward” on the stalled process.

However, DEA administrator nominee Terrance Cole repeatedly declined to commit to support the specific proposed rule to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) that was initiated under the Biden administration.

“If confirmed, it’ll be one of my first priorities when I arrived at DEA to see where we are in the administrative process,” Cole told Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I’m not familiar exactly where we are, but I know the process has been delayed numerous times—and it’s time to move forward.”

Pressed on his position on the specific proposal to move marijuana to Schedule III, he said, “I need to understand more where [agencies] are and look at the science behind it and listen to the experts and really understand where they are in the process.”

Watch the DEA nominee discuss marijuana, starting at 1:29:35 and 1:42:45 into the video below:

“We know where we are,” Padilla told the nominee. “We know what the directive is: Get it to Schedule III,” he said, referring to a rescheduling recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services.

“Are you committed to seeing it to fruition?” the senator asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen it,” Cole said.

“So you’re leaving the door open to changing course,” the senator said.

“I’m leaving the door open to studying everything that’s been done so far, so I can make a determination,” the prospective DEA head said.

Cole also said in response to questions from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) at the hearing that he feels it’s appropriate to form a “working group” to look at the federal-state marijuana law disconnect in order to “stay ahead of it.”

Tillis raised concerns he had about the fact that an Indian tribe has legalized marijuana for adult use on their territory within North Carolina, which has not yet enacted legalization at the state level.

“The whole patchwork of state laws around legal marijuana, medical marijuana, it’s very confusing. I think it’s out of control,” the senator said. “And, ultimately, I believe the United States, the federal government, needs to set boundaries.”

“It’s pretty clear to me that most states are going to legalize it at some level—so this is not intended to be a message about the future of marijuana, but it’s about the present of marijuana,” he said before asking the nominee if he would commit “to look through the mechanics of this operation and give me a definitive answers to questions” he raised with the prior administration last year.

“Yes, sir, you have my commitment, Cole said, adding that he’d want to first consult with the U.S. attorney in the region as well as DEA counsel to provide an adequate response.

“Does it make sense, at some point for law enforcement purposes, that we should come up with the rules of the road so there’s consistent application [of marijuana laws] across the 50 states?” Tillis asked.

“I think this is definitely worthy of a working group, because, to your earlier points, we need to stay ahead of it,” Cole said.

The lines of questioning didn’t produce a definitive answer as to the question of where Cole ultimately stands on marijuana policy or how he’d treat the rescheduling process if confirmed. But it does signal he’s given the issue some amount of thought as he potentially enters into the critical role of DEA administrator.

“No matter what you think of Senator Tom Tillis‘s questions or comments, anytime the issue of cannabis is brought up in the Senate Judiciary Committee, we are winning,” Don Murphy, co-founder of American Cannabis Collective, told Marijuana Moment. “We are making incremental steps that will lead to an end to prohibition sooner rather than later.”

It’s not everyday I get to talk to the new DEA Administrator about the benefits of medical #cannabis and the 250 pages of HHS documented evidence calling for it to be rescheduled… but I did today! pic.twitter.com/Q4zGTuGbns

— Don Murphy (@donmurphy12a) April 30, 2025

Cole has previously voiced concerns about the dangers of marijuana and linked its use to higher suicide risk among youth.

The nominee worked at DEA for 21 years and currently serves as Virginia’s secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security (PSHS), where part of his responsibility is to oversee the state Cannabis Control Authority (CCA).

After a visit to CCA’s office last year, Cole posted on LinkedIn: “Everybody knows my stance on marijuana after 30 plus years in law enforcement, so don’t even ask!”

Trump initially chose Hillsborough County, Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister to lead DEA, but the prospective nominee—who strongly advocated for marijuana decriminalization—withdrew from consideration in January amid scrutiny from conservative lawmakers over the sheriff’s record on COVID-related public safety enforcement actions.

As far as the marijuana rescheduling process is concerned, DEA recently notified an agency judge that the proceedings are still on hold—with no future actions currently scheduled as the matter sits before the acting administrator, Derek Maltz, who has called cannabis a “gateway drug” and linked its use to psychosis.

Meanwhile, although shutting down licensed marijuana dispensaries doesn’t “rise to the top” of his priorities, a U.S. attorney who recently warned a Washington, D.C. cannabis shop about potential federal law violations says his “instinct is that it shouldn’t be in the community.”

Separately, last week, an activist who received a pardon for a marijuana-related conviction during Trump’s first term paid a visit to the White House, discussing future clemency options with the recently appointed “pardon czar.”

A marijuana industry-backed political action committee (PAC) has also released a series of ads over recent weeks that have attacked Biden’s cannabis policy record as well as the nation of Canada, promoting sometimes misleading claims about the last administration while making the case that Trump can deliver on reform.

Its latest ad accused former President Joe Biden and his DEA of waging a “deep state war” against medical cannabis patients—but without mentioning that the former president himself initiated the rescheduling process that marijuana companies want to see completed under Trump.

Pennsylvania Governor Will Put Marijuana Legalization In His Budget, But Top GOP Senator Remains Skeptical

Marijuana Businesses Tell GOP Senate Committee About Struggles Accessing Financial Services Ahead Of Debanking Hearing

The marijuana industry is hoping to make its voice heard at an upcoming Senate committee hearing focused on debanking, with stakeholders sharing stories about their experiences losing financial services simply for working in and around state-legal cannabis markets.

Ahead of the Senate Banking Committee hearing that’s scheduled for next Wednesday, February 5, the chair of the panel, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), encouraged anyone who’s been debanked to contact his staff with details to help inform the debate.

“I’m committed to ensuring Americans who have been debanked have their voices heard, and to prevent chokepoint activities from happening in the future,” the chairman said. “Working together, we can ensure bad actors who have exploited their power are held accountable.”

Scott didn’t specifically address the longstanding issues cannabis companies have faced securing banking services under federal prohibition—and the focus of the upcoming committee meeting seems to center largely on other industries that have alleged politically motivated debanking such as cryptocurrency companies and firearms dealers.

As Chairman of @BankingGOP, I’m committed to ensuring Americans who have been debanked have their voices heard, and to prevent chokepoint activities from happening in the future.

If you have been debanked, please reach out to my staff: https://t.co/0Su1MHECzO

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) January 24, 2025

The chairman is on the record opposing bipartisan cannabis banking reform legislation, and he stressed in a video that his concern with debanking incidents is focused on “legal” enterprises—which marijuana businesses are not, at least under federal law. But key players in the cannabis industry are still accepting his invitation to reach out share their stories by contacting a whistleblower hotline and email address.

“No other industry has experienced debanking like the cannabis industry,” David Culver, senior vice president of public affairs at the U.S. Cannabis Council (USCC), told Marijuana Moment on Monday. “Every major financial institution and exchange has shut us out, and our executives and employees routinely experience debanking in their personal lives—from shuttered accounts to denied mortgages and loans.”

“Ahead of next week’s hearing, our members are encouraging their employees to share their personal banking challenges with the committee,” he said. “We are also meeting with relevant offices on Capitol Hill to encourage senators to raise our industry’s challenges at the hearing. We are hopeful that a representative from our industry will be invited to testify.”

Don Murphy, a cannabis lobbyist and former GOP Maryland legislator who had his own accounts shut down due to his association with marijuana advocacy, told Marijuana Moment that his hope is that “front-line employees share their stories about being rejected for mortgages or even apartment rentals,” arguing that the message might resonate more effectively if those impacted workers make the case for reform.

I got de-banked, and I’m just a non-plant-touching #cannabis policy reform advocate.🤦‍♂️ @AmericanCCohttps://t.co/GOTn0uW8EL

— Don Murphy (@donmurphy12a) January 25, 2025

“Let’s make this about the Average Joe and not Mister Moneybags,” he said. “Nothing against the cannabis industry C-Suite, but I’d rather have half a million front-line cannabis employees blowing up the phones on Capitol Hill than a handful of suits on a fly-in day.”

A number of leaders in an around the cannabis industry are also sharing their stories in response to the committee’s request for infomation, at least on social media.

Thank you for hosting this @SenatorTimScott! I sent an email detailing the gratuitous debanking we have all faced personally and professionally. Simply trying to build an American industry, creating jobs, paying taxes and asking for the transparency of our existing banking… https://t.co/YFO1IDnqXB

— Emily Paxhia (@empax1) January 27, 2025

I’ve been de-banked 3 times because I take a paycheck from a state legal cannabis company. Let’s fix the problem and get this budding 🇺🇸 industry into the sunshine! https://t.co/RM2zgOi0Sm

— Brady Cobb (@BCobblaw) January 27, 2025

I was debanked in 2018 by JP Morgan Chase due to my account being linked to a business that actively invested in the cannabis industry.

I was given no warning from the bank. Just a simple “you’re accounts closed, come and get your money or it will be frozen. @SenatorTimScotthttps://t.co/MjrUcAEWCY

— Anthony Varrell (@V_arrell) January 26, 2025

I have been kicked out of Wells Fargo, Chase, BofA, and other financial institutions, pay higher interest % on my mortgage because I’m an executive at a publicly traded cannabis company w/ ~6 years of audited financials. Paid w-2 no cash, all taxes paid. Pls Help #SAFEBankinghttps://t.co/qf9CWlYQBa

— Graham Farrar (@grahamfarrar) January 27, 2025

Meanwhile, the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act to address the underlying issue is expected to be filed again this session—but that introduction is “not imminent” as some recent reports have suggested, a spokesperson for the GOP House sponsor of the last version told Marijuana Moment last week.

“While introduction is not imminent, we hope to have a firmer update on timing within the coming weeks,” the staffer for Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) said.

With Republicans now in control of the House and Senate—and leadership having historically opposed even modest cannabis legislation, including the banking bill—there are open questions about the prospects of advancing marijuana reform this session.

However, some are holding out hope that a measure to allow cannabis industry banking access could move, especially given President Donald Trump’s endorsement of the proposal on the campaign trail.

Separately, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced last month that it’s convening focus groups comprised of marijuana businesses to better understand their experiences with access to banking services under federal prohibition.

The industry remains frustrated with the lack of progress on the cannabis banking issue under the last administration. Despite repeated pledges to prioritize the reform, the SAFER Banking Act only cleared the Senate Banking Committee in September 2023 and never made it to the floor.

A Senate source told Marijuana Moment last month that Republican House and Senate leadership “openly and solely blocked” then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) attempt to include the bill in a government funding bill as the session came to a close.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) had challenged the idea that there was enough GOP support for the SAFER Banking Act to pass on the Senate floor during the lame duck session.

Warren accused certain Republican members of overstating support for the legislation within their caucus, while also taking a hit at Trump for doing “nothing” on cannabis reform during his time in office as he makes a policy pivot ahead of the election by coming out in support of the marijuana banking bill and federal rescheduling.

Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) also recently argued in an interview with Marijuana Moment that the main barrier to getting the marijuana banking bill across the finish line is a lack of sufficient Republican support in the chamber. And he said if Trump is serious about seeing the reform he recently endorsed enacted, he needs to “bring us some Republican senators.”

Prior to becoming House speaker, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) consistently opposed cannabis reform, including on incremental issues like cannabis banking and making it easier to conduct scientific research on the plant.

Meanwhile, on the one-year anniversary of a Senate committee’s passage of the SAFER Banking Act in September, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an analysis on the economic impact of the reform, including the likely increase in federally insured deposits from cannabis businesses by billions of dollars once banks receive protections for servicing the industry.

Separately, the CEO of the financial giant JPMorgan Chase said recently that the company “probably would” start providing banking services to marijuana businesses if federal law changed to permit it.

Florida Bill Would Let Medical Marijuana Patients Grow At Home And Crack Down On Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids

Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan.