Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40915022›Full record

ArticleDrug and alcohol dependence2025

Cannabis administration is associated with reduced alcohol consumption: Evidence from a novel laboratory co-administration paradigm.

Claire L Pince, Vanessa T Stallsmith, Cianna J Piercey, Katelyn Weldon, Jesse Ruehrmund, Gregory Dooley, L Cinnamon Bidwell, Hollis C Karoly

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Drug and alcohol dependence, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Observational
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Claire L PinceDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA. Electronic address: Claire.Pince@colorado.edu.
Vanessa T StallsmithDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Cianna J PierceyDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Katelyn WeldonDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Jesse RuehrmundDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Gregory DooleyDepartment of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1601, USA.
L Cinnamon BidwellDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
Hollis C KarolyDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA. Electronic address: hollis.karoly@cuanschutz.edu.

Funding

Exploring the Effects of Cannabinoids on Alcohol Consumption and the Microbiota-Gut-Brain AxisK23AA028238 · NIAAA · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · PI KAROLY, HOLLIS C · 2021 to 2025
$1.1M
NIAAA NIH HHS K23 AA028238
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlcohol and cannabis co-use is increasingly prevalent across the U.S., concomitant with trends towards recreational cannabis legalization. While some studies have shown that cannabis co-use is associated with reductions in alcohol consumption (i.e., substitution), others have observed increases in alcohol intake (i.e., complementarity) or no change. This study aims to address this gap in the literature through investigating the effects of legal-market cannabis on alcohol consumption and craving in the laboratory.

methodLeveraging a within-subjects design, we enrolled non-treatment seeking individuals who use both alcohol and cannabis (n = 61) to complete two laboratory sessions, wherein they were provided an alcohol priming drink alone or after self-administering cannabis. Participants were then given the opportunity to self-administer up to 4 additional drinks. We assessed differences in alcohol self-administration and craving between sessions.

resultsCannabis self-administration was associated with a significant reduction in number of drinks self-administered. Further, exploratory analyses revealed that individuals who drank less after using cannabis ("substituters", n = 23) experienced reductions in craving after using cannabis and alcohol compared to alcohol alone, whereas individuals who drank the same number of drinks after using cannabis show minimal differences in craving. There were no significant group differences in blood-THC concentration post-cannabis use.

conclusionResults indicate that for some individuals who drink heavily, cannabis may serve as a substitute for alcohol, and craving reduction is a potential mechanism through which this could occur.

Indexed as

AlcoholCannabisSelf-administrationSimultaneous useSubstitution

Identifiers

PMID40915022
PMCPMC13007497

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.