How different cannabis types (THC vs CBD) affect drinking

Cannabis' Impact on Alcohol Consumption: Integrating Laboratory and Ecological Momentary Assessment Methods

['FUNDING_R01'] · BROWN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11389505

This work looks at whether using cannabis with different mixes of THC and CBD changes alcohol drinking in people who regularly use both substances.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorBROWN UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (PROVIDENCE, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11389505 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

You would join if you regularly use both alcohol and cannabis. The team will bring you into the lab for controlled sessions where cannabis products with varying THC and CBD levels are given and alcohol consumption and craving are measured. You will also use a smartphone to report real-time cannabis and alcohol use in your daily life so researchers can compare lab results with real-world behavior. The study combines laboratory experiments and day-to-day monitoring to see how different cannabinoids shape drinking within the same person.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who regularly co-use cannabis and alcohol, including heavy co-users and people with alcohol use disorder.

Not a fit: People who do not use cannabis or alcohol, who cannot legally or medically use cannabis, or who are pregnant are unlikely to benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help people and clinicians understand whether certain cannabis types reduce or increase drinking and guide safer use or new treatment ideas.

How similar studies have performed: Previous human lab work from this team found THC can acutely reduce alcohol value and consumption in heavy co-users and animal studies suggest CBD may reduce alcohol craving, but combined human lab and real-world tests of different cannabinoid mixes are largely novel.

Where this research is happening

PROVIDENCE, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.