Poll: Majority of Marijuana Users Cut Back on Alcohol Consumption

A new survey suggests that cannabis use may be replacing alcohol for many consumers, with more than half reporting they drink less—or not at all—after using marijuana.

The poll, conducted by cannabis telehealth platform NuggMD, found that 54 percent of respondents said their alcohol intake decreased or stopped entirely when they consumed cannabis. Meanwhile, 22 percent reported no change, 14 percent said it depended on the situation, and only 9 percent indicated they drank more after using marijuana.

These findings align with the growing body of research on the "substitution effect," where consumers opt for cannabis as a perceived safer alternative to alcohol. The survey, which polled 381 cannabis users between January 9-12, has a 5 percent margin of error.

A Public Health Shift

In an exclusive comment for Marijuana Moment, Alexandra Arnett, lead researcher at NuggMD, highlighted the public health implications of this trend.

“Many people are substituting a potentially fatal substance with one that isn’t. From a harm reduction perspective, this is a positive shift. However, this replacement is only a safe, practical option in state-legal recreational markets,” Arnett explained.

Despite legalization gains, 47 percent of Americans and 37 percent of cannabis consumers still live in states without legal access to marijuana. Arnett emphasized that ongoing federal and state prohibition is limiting the broader societal benefits of this shift.

Legalization Driving Consumer Trends

The findings reflect a larger trend as state-level legalization expands, making legal cannabis more accessible. Many modern cannabis consumers are using the plant for wellness rather than purely recreational indulgence, according to ongoing polling data.

Experts note that this is not the first study to highlight the effects of marijuana legalization on consumer habits. Ricardo, co-founder of Pyramid Seeds, pointed to previous research showing that cannabis use influences not only alcohol consumption but also reliance on pharmaceuticals.

“This is not the first study of its kind. Previous research has already confirmed that marijuana legalization significantly reduces the use of sleeping pills and antidepressants. In other words, legal and responsible cannabis consumption helps people move away from pharmaceutical and drug dependencies,” Ricardo said.

With increasing evidence of cannabis replacing alcohol and pharmaceuticals for some users, experts suggest that policy reform could play a key role in shaping future public health outcomes.

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