Study Finds Cannabis Consumption Tied to Lower Use of Other Drugs

A new study out of New Zealand suggests that people who regularly use marijuana consume less of certain other drugs. Scientists there surveyed 23,500 people about their use of cannabis and whether it had an effect on their intake of other intoxicating substances. The researchers say that, of these respondents, 60 percent said they ingested less alcohol, 60 percent said they ingested less artificial cannabinoids, 44 percent said they ingested less morphine, and 40 percent said they ingested less methamphetamine. Furthermore, these respondents reportedly used other drugs both less frequently and in lower amounts.

In other words, the study suggests that people who use cannabis regularly are less likely to use more dangerous drugs. The implications on public health could be considerable. Let’s dive into the study’s findings in detail and explore what they could mean for public health.

Looking Deeper into the Study

At the same time, the study found that seven in ten respondents said that marijuana consumption had no effect on their consumption of cocaine, MDMA, or LSD. Moreover, while a third of respondents who use both tobacco and cannabis reported a decrease in tobacco use, a fifth said cannabis led to an increase in tobacco use.

Further complicating matters is that the demographics seemed to affect whether cannabis consumption led to lower ingestion of other drugs. Respondents aged 21 to 35 were the likeliest group to say that increasing marijuana use led to a decreased use of other drugs. The cohort just behind them—those aged 16 to 20—reported the highest variance in mixed-use. They were most likely to report either a decrease or an increase in consumption of other drugs, rather than no effect.

Urban dwellers and students were less likely to report decreased use of other drugs related to their marijuana consumption. Researchers posited this might be due to the fact that these demographics have easier access to a greater range of drugs.

A Mixed Picture Emerges

While this new study adds to the growing body of research on the topic of cannabis availability and its effects on other drug consumption, it also underscores the difficulty at this point of separating a signal from the noise. The study authors are quick to note that the overall effects of cannabis on other drug consumption remain a mixed picture. They point out that a U.S. study has previously found that cannabis consumption leads to a decrease in binge drinking among U.S. college students—but only in upperclassmen. Younger students who use marijuana appear just as likely to binge drink as their 420-friendly classmates.

Recent literature on the subject suggests that the interactions of cannabis and alcohol consumption seem to be age-related. With age, co-users may moderate their level of substitution between the soft drugs and, consequently, their complementary behavior.

The researchers also point to studies on alcohol purchases in Washington, Oregon, and Colorado, three of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana. While overall monthly purchases of alcohol declined in each, sales of spirits declined in Oregon while increasing in Washington. Similarly, beer sales in Canada appear to have declined after legalization, while liquor sales specifically were unaffected. Moreover, other studies of U.S. consumption habits broadly found no relationship between the legalization of marijuana and the volume of alcohol sales.

The study authors posited that the effect of cannabis consumption on alcohol consumption likely speaks to both the similarity of their neurological effects as well as social mores. As recreational marijuana use becomes less stigmatized, younger people especially may see it as largely analogous to other intoxicants, especially of “softer” alcohol—fermented beverages rather than distilled ones.

Understanding Harm Reduction

The researchers behind the New Zealand study say their findings have a range of implications on harm reduction—societal policies meant to reduce negative health outcomes. They note that cannabis consumption is, in large part, a function of complex social factors. These include cultural perspectives and the lifestyles and life stages of individual consumers, as well as everything from dependency disorders to the composition of the particular cannabis product to the order in which the user consumes the drugs.

One major implication of the study is that its authors believe easier access to cannabis could lead older young adults (those in their twenties) to limit excessive alcohol consumption. Adults in this age bracket tend to be hedonistic and prone to excessive drug consumption. Cannabis intake in this cohort could reduce their risk of acute alcohol poisoning.

Secondly, the authors believe that access to cannabis could reduce methamphetamine use in some individuals. First, they note that 44 percent of respondents who used methamphetamine reported a decrease in usage in concert with cannabis consumption. They also point to a number of other studies that have indicated that medicinal cannabis—which has a lower risk of severe side effects relative to many other drugs—can support individuals who are either unable or unwilling to stop using methamphetamine and other stimulants entirely. Cultural groups with a pre-existing positive opinion of marijuana should be particularly receptive to its medicinal deployment.

The authors suggest that community programs could be set up to provide low- or no-cost cannabis to disadvantaged people who might otherwise turn to harder drugs. Vancouver has had success doing so already. Implementing this plan could save society the costs of responding to health crises and treating addiction and its long-term consequences at relatively little upfront expense.

Get More of the Latest from Cannabutter Digest!

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this research is that we continue to learn more about the benefits legalized cannabis can have on society. Moreover, the federal government’s recent rescheduling of cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug means that U.S. researchers will have more opportunities to conduct studies like this one from New Zealand. What will this mean for our society and our shared future? While that remains to be seen, one thing is for sure: Cannabutter Digest will be here to keep you up-to-date on the latest info. Visit us regularly for news updates, product reviews, tasty recipes, and so much more incredible content!