# Smoking Cannabis May Reduce Alcohol Cravings, New Study Finds – Food & Wine > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-alcohol-cravings-research-study-findings/ > **Published:** 2026-03-08T12:40:09-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T12:00:06-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** Explore cannabis alcohol cravings research showing potential reduction in alcohol cravings, highlighting harm reduction and treatment considerations. --- ✦ New CED Clinical Relevance #75 Strong Clinical Relevance High-quality evidence with meaningful patient or clinical significance. ResearchMental HealthTHCSafety Why This Matters Clinicians should recognize that cannabis use may modulate alcohol cravings in some patients, potentially offering a harm reduction consideration for individuals with alcohol use disorder, though substitution risk requires careful clinical assessment. This emerging evidence suggests cannabis could have therapeutic applications in [addiction treatment](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-based-therapies-smoking-cessation/) protocols, warranting further investigation and informed discussion between providers and patients about relative risks and benefits compared to established pharmacotherapies like naltrexone or acamprosate. Clinical Summary This preliminary research suggests that cannabis use may attenuate alcohol cravings in some individuals, contributing to emerging evidence that cannabis could play a role in alcohol use disorder management. The findings align with growing clinical interest in cannabis as a potential adjunctive tool for substance use disorders, though the study’s design, sample size, and generalizability to diverse patient populations remain unclear from the limited information provided. The research reflects a broader shift in [addiction medicine](https://cedclinic.com/cognitive-flexibility-alcohol-cocaine-misuse-effects/) toward exploring multiple pharmacological pathways for reducing problematic drinking rather than relying solely on traditional abstinence-based approaches. Clinicians should recognize that while this signals a potential therapeutic avenue, robust randomized controlled trials with careful patient selection and monitoring for [cannabis dependence](https://cedclinic.com/ptsd-cannabis-dependence-veterans-social-support/) risk are needed before recommending cannabis specifically for alcohol craving reduction in clinical practice. Any consideration of cannabis for alcohol use disorder should occur within a comprehensive treatment framework that addresses underlying psychological and social factors contributing to alcohol use. Clinicians encountering patients interested in cannabis for alcohol cravings should request evidence from rigorous trials while carefully weighing individual patient risks and benefits. Dr. Caplan’s Take “What this research suggests is that we may have a harm reduction tool for patients struggling with alcohol use disorder, though we need to be careful not to simply substitute one substance for another without proper monitoring and therapeutic support.” Clinical Perspective While preliminary findings suggesting cannabis may reduce alcohol cravings warrant attention given the public health burden of alcohol use disorder, clinicians should approach this concept with appropriate skepticism until robust evidence accumulates. The mechanism underlying any potential effect remains unclear, and the study’s design, sample characteristics, and potential confounders (such as self-selection bias in who chooses to use cannabis) are critical unknowns from this summary. Additionally, substituting one psychoactive substance for another introduces risks including [cannabis use disorder](https://cedclinic.com/sex-differences-cannabis-stress-reactivity-oxytocin/), respiratory or cognitive effects, and potential drug interactions that may outweigh benefits for individual patients. Current evidence-based treatments for alcohol cravings, including medications like naltrexone and acamprosate combined with behavioral support, maintain stronger safety and efficacy profiles. Until larger, controlled trials establish efficacy and safety, practitioners should continue recommending established interventions while remaining open to discussing emerging research with patients, and should screen carefully for problematic substance 💬 Join the Conversation Have a question about how this applies to your situation? [Ask Dr. Caplan →](https://benjamincaplan.com/ask-dr-caplan) Want to discuss this topic with other patients and caregivers? [Join the forum discussion →](https://cedclinic.com/interact/discussion-forums/) Have thoughts on this? Share it: [𝕏 Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Just+read+this+on+CEDclinic.com%3A+Smoking+Cannabis+May+Reduce+Alcohol+Cravings%2C+New+Study+Finds+-+Food+%26amp%3B+Wine+%40drcaplan&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foodandwine.com%2Fsmoking-cannabis-supports-alcohol-moderation-brown-university-study-11921474) [in Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foodandwine.com%2Fsmoking-cannabis-supports-alcohol-moderation-brown-university-study-11921474) [🦅 Share on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Just+read+this%3A+Smoking+Cannabis+May+Reduce+Alcohol+Cravings%2C+New+Study+Finds+-+Food+%26amp%3B+Wine+--+via+%40drcaplan.bsky.social+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foodandwine.com%2Fsmoking-cannabis-supports-alcohol-moderation-brown-university-study-11921474) [📷 Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/drbenjamincaplan/) [📝 Read more on Substack](https://substack.com/@doctorapproved) [🔔 Subscribe via RSS](https://cedclinic.com/category/cannabis-news/feed/) 📰 Source: [https://www.foodandwine.com/smoking-cannabis-supports-alcohol-moderation-brown-university-study-11921474](https://www.foodandwine.com/smoking-cannabis-supports-alcohol-moderation-brown-university-study-11921474) Further Reading Cannabis Policy Wire[Policy Watch: 20 Regulatory Updates — March 10, 2026](https://cedclinic.com/dea-scheduling-synthetic-opioids-regulatory-updates-2026/) Research Digest[Daily Digest 2026-03-07](https://cedclinic.com/adolescent-cannabis-psychiatric-outcomes-2026-digest/) Evidence Watch[`Cannabinoid Clinical Trials: CBD Cortical Excitability Study`](https://cedclinic.com/cannabidiol-lacks-intrinsic-anti-epileptic-properties-trial/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. Health, Longevity, Wellness One-on-One Cannabis Guidance Metabolic Balance [Leave a Message](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) [Metabolic Care](https://cedclinic.com/metabolic/metabolic-how-it-works/) [Medical Consulting](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [Cannabis Care](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) RELATED READING AT CED CLINIC Continue exploring the evidence CBD Gummies for Alcohol Cravings: What the Evidence Shows and How They Fit Into Daily Routines Explore how CBD gummies may help reduce alcohol cravings and fit into daily routines based on current evidence. Learn More [Cannabidiol may help treat severe alcohol addiction and protect the brain from damage](https://cedclinic.com/cannabidiol-alcohol-use-disorder-treatment/) Review research on cannabidiol's potential to treat severe alcohol addiction and its neuroprotective effects. [Read Article](https://cedclinic.com/cannabidiol-alcohol-use-disorder-treatment/) [Study explains whether drinking alcohol or smoking weed does more long term damage](https://cedclinic.com/long-term-health-consequences-alcohol-cannabis/) Understand comparative long-term health impacts of alcohol versus cannabis use from recent studies. [Explore Study](https://cedclinic.com/long-term-health-consequences-alcohol-cannabis/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).