Acute Effects of Cannabis on Alcohol Craving and Consumption: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Cannabis use is strongly linked with heavy drinking and worse alcohol treatment outcomes; however, it may also contribute to decreased alcohol consumption. To date, no human studies have established a causal effect of cannabis on alcohol motivation. The aim of this double-blind crossover randomized clinical trial was to examine dose-dependent acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on alcohol craving and consumption.

Methods

Across three experimental days, 157 participants reporting heavy alcohol use and cannabis use two or more times weekly were randomized to smoke cannabis cigarettes containing 7.2% THC, 3.1% THC, or 0.03% THC (placebo), followed by exposures to neutral and personalized alcohol cues and an alcohol choice task for alcohol self-administ

SUBMITTER: Metrik J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12812287 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature