“You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
A few years ago, I received this in an outraged email from a therapist subscribed to my mailing list. It was written in response to me talking about how cannabis appears to be helpful in tapering people off alcohol. “I’m unsubscribing because this is irresponsible behavior,” they wrote.
Of course, by now, I’m used to this kind of blowback when I tiptoe into territory where sticky stigmas around cannabis still frame the plant as just another addictive substance. But this is where my background as a former health editor and reporter serves me well. I stay on top of the scientific literature, and I don’t deal in “alternative facts.”
Yet, I understand why accepting the theory that cannabis can/could/does wean people off alcohol is a hard one to swallow. Twelve step programs, counseling services, and many (but not all) talk therapists insist that anybody with a substance abuse problem should renounce all substances.
“Clean and sober” used to be the gold standard. But maybe we need to make room for a new approach – what some are calling “Marijuana Maintenance.“
“I used to use marijuana to numb,” one of my students told me. It had been one of her former addictions – along with crack and alcohol. “But now I’m in recovery and I’m on marijuana maintenance,” she added as we discussed her path of emotional and trauma recovery.
Stories like this are not unusual in my emotions work – but marijuana maintenance was a new term for me. I like the phrase a lot as it rings true in so many ways (in addition to the great alliteration).
“Maintenance” is the state of being maintained, supported or cared for. So marijuana maintenance offers support for increased stability, deeper introspection, enhanced empathy, heightened creativity, and my favorite – supporting inner exploration for going into deep meditative states.
While the term hasn’t yet made its way into academic literature (yet), the science is catching up quickly. In recent years, a significant amount of published studies suggest that when used intentionally, cannabis helps reduce alcohol intake for some people. Most recently:
- A 2025 study published by Researchers at Colorado State University and the University of Colorado found that adults who consumed cannabis before drinking alcohol drank 25% less on average and reported lower alcohol cravings. (Cannabis administration is associated with reduced alcohol consumption and craving: Evidence from a novel laboratory co-administration)
- This 2024 clinical trial published in Molecular Psychiatry tested high-dose CBD (800mg) in individuals with alcohol use disorder. The results showed that people had fewer cravings for alcohol and their brains were less triggered by things that usually make them want to drink. (Cannabidiol reduces alcohol cue-reactivity and craving in alcohol use disorder)
- In New Zealand, a large-scale 2024 survey involving more than 23,000 cannabis users showed that many actively used cannabis as a substitute for alcohol and other substances – especially among young adults and communities with high instances of alcohol abuse. (Substitution of cannabis for alcohol and other drugs among cannabis users in New Zealand)
- A 2024 Bloomberg Intelligence survey reported that 44% of U.S. cannabis users now say they’re substituting cannabis for alcohol – up from 33% in 2022. That’s a sharp and telling increase. (Analysts Observe Sudden Uptick in Cannabis Use as an Alternative to Alcohol)
And earlier studies had already laid a strong foundation:
Veterans Often Substitute Medical Cannabis for Alcohol and Prescription Drugs
Patients Frequently Substitute Medical Cannabis for Other Controlled Substances
Medical Cannabis Patients Report Decreased Use of Opioids and Anti-Anxiety Medications
Substituting Cannabis for Prescription Drugs, Alcohol, and Other Substances
Of course, using of cannabis in this respect is something far different from the pursuit of “numbing” with substances. It’s quite clear the “numbing” process is a logical approach for a person desperately trying to quiet painful emotions like anxiety, anger, depression, and low self-esteem – which is a whole other conversation!
What are your thoughts on this approach, the idea of using cannabis to wean off alcohol? Drop down to the comments section and let me know!
With Love,
Becca
