Study Highlights Retail Cannabis Sales May Play A Role in Reduced Drinking with Young Adults

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A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine investigated whether there was a connection between consumers using cannabis and alcohol and adult-use cannabis legalization laws (1,2). Researchers for the study were affiliated with the City University of New York (New York, NY) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (Birmingham, AL).

The team looked through nationally representative data from more than 400,000 respondents from a time period of over 10 years (1). Researchers saw “limited effects on population-wide alcohol and tobacco consumption post-legalization,” (1). They did witness decreased use in in the young adult demographic. Data from the study showed that alcohol use decreased in young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 years old. For example, college-educated adults (1). Older adults between the ages of 50 to 59 years old also showed that the frequency in binge drinking decreased. Additionally, cigarette use also declined in frequency.

“The findings suggest that the impact of RCLs [recreational cannabis laws] on alcohol and tobacco use is complex,” the study’s authors mentioned (1,2). “Alcohol and cannabis, as well as tobacco and cannabis, may function as both complements and substitutes. Different individuals may use these substances for either reason, and the same individuals may engage in complementary or substitute behaviors depending on personal preference and accessibility. … More research is needed to evaluate the effects of RCLs over time.”

Norml mentions that study data has shown that consumers are familiar with the idea of “substituting marijuana for alcohol,” (1,3). Additional research will be needed to further explore the connection between cannabis and alcohol use.

References

1. Norml. Legal cannabis sales associated with less drinking among young adults https://norml.org/news/2025/02/13/study-retail-cannabis-sales-associated-with-reduced-drinking-among-young-adults/ (accessed Feb 28, 2025).
2. De, P. K.; Sun, R. The effects of recreational cannabis laws on alcohol and tobacco use among us adults, 2012 to 2022 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39909135/ (accessed Feb 28, 2025).
3. Norml. Marijuana consumers frequently substitute cannabis for alcohol, other substances https://norml.org/blog/2024/11/12/marijuana-consumers-frequently-report-substituting-cannabis-for-alcohol-other-substances/ (accessed Feb 28, 2025).