Lighting Up Before You Drink? New Study Says It Might Curb Your Booze Intake
In a fresh twist on the relationship between weed and whiskey, a new federally funded study suggests that lighting up a joint before sipping a drink might actually lead to less alcohol consumption—and fewer cravings to keep pouring.
The research, published as a preprint on the open-access site PsyArXiv, dives into the real-time effects of cannabis use on alcohol intake. And what it finds could have implications for how we approach alcohol use disorders and harm reduction strategies.
Weed Before Whiskey, Not the Other Way Around
The study observed people who used marijuana right before drinking and compared their behavior to when they drank without any cannabis involved. The results? Pretty compelling.
“We found that across the entire sample, self-administering cannabis before alcohol significantly reduced alcohol consumption compared to when alcohol was offered without cannabis,” the study’s authors reported.
Not only did participants drink less, but they also reported a drop in their desire to drink more. That’s right—marijuana seemed to blunt the cravings for alcohol in the moment.
“Cannabis and alcohol co-administration was associated with significant acute reduction in alcohol craving compared to alcohol administration alone,” the researchers added.
Why This Matters
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains one of the most common and difficult-to-treat forms of addiction. Despite the wide availability of treatment programs and medications, relapse rates are high, and many people struggle with managing cravings. This is where cannabis—particularly when used strategically—could offer a novel approach.
Rather than encouraging substitution (swapping one substance for another), this research hints at a more nuanced role: using cannabis alongside alcohol in a way that might lead to reduced drinking, especially among people who tend to overdo it.
And while cannabis isn’t risk-free, its relative safety—particularly compared to heavy drinking—makes it a candidate for harm-reduction strategies. This research supports earlier findings that cannabis use might help some individuals drink less over time or prevent binge episodes.
What’s Behind the Effect?
So what’s actually going on here? Researchers aren’t entirely sure yet, but there are a few theories.
One possibility is that the psychoactive effects of cannabis—especially THC—satisfy some of the same psychological or sensory desires that alcohol does, reducing the need to chase a buzz with booze. Another theory involves the brain’s reward system: cannabis may dull the appeal of alcohol cues or interfere with the mechanisms that normally trigger cravings.
Some studies have even shown that specific cannabinoids like CBD (which doesn’t get you high) can directly reduce alcohol cravings and dampen the brain’s response to drinking triggers.
Caution, Context, and Next Steps
Of course, this study is still in preprint form, meaning it hasn’t been peer-reviewed yet. And the researchers are careful not to overpromise: while the data show a clear trend, they’re based on short-term behavior and may not reflect long-term effects or risks.Still, this kind of work adds to a growing body of evidence that cannabis—when used deliberately—might have a role to play in public health strategies around alcohol use.
The takeaway? Cannabis might not just be a party partner—it could also be an unlikely ally in cutting back on drinking. For those struggling with alcohol cravings or looking to moderate their intake, science is beginning to back up what some anecdotal reports have hinted at for years. Is it time to rethink how we treat alcohol use disorders? Studies like this suggest the answer might be yes—and that cannabis could be part of the conversation.
