It turns out that going “California sober” may actually help you stay away from alcohol, according to new research published in the the American Journal of Psychiatry.

A team of Brown University researchers conducted a study in which participants were given marijuana joints to smoke and then sent out to a controlled “bar lab”, in which they then were given the choice to have up to eight mini alcoholic beverages. The experiment was conducted three separate times: once with 7.2% THC cannabis, once with 3.1% THC cannabis and once with 0.03% THC cannabis, which was considered a placebo.

A major component of the study was the replication of a real-life bar, complete with dark lighting and drinks on tap.

Jane Metrik, a professor of behavioral and social science at Brown University who led the study, stressed the importance of authenticity for participants, telling NPR that “we wanted to make sure that when given the opportunity, you would be really driven to drink”.

The results revealed that participants’ alcohol consumption fell by 19% after smoking cannabis with 3.1% THC. The drop was even more significant after smoking the higher-potency 7.2% THC cannabis – participants ended up drinking 27% less alcohol than the placebo.

Expanded legalization efforts have led to a major surge in marijuana usage – its consumption has doubled over the past 10 years, according to a 2024 Gallup survey. Alcohol consumption is at a record low, with many turning to alternatives such as weed. Of the participants in the Brown trial, however, 40% met the criteria for alcohol use disorder.

While cannabis could serve as a potential solution to heavy drinking, Metrik acknowledged that there is still more research to be done.

“We’re not ready to tell people seeking treatment for alcohol, go ahead and substitute cannabis, and it will work out for you,” she said.