Lower-THC, higher-CBD cannabis to help people cut down on drinking
Official title: Alcohol Use Disorder and Cannabis: Testing Novel Harm Reduction Strategies
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11374863 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares switching from high-THC cannabis to low-THC, high-CBD products to see if it helps people with alcohol use disorder reduce or stop drinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 20, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $501,086 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA029606-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374863 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with alcohol use disorder who currently use high-THC cannabis and want help reducing or stopping alcohol use are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not use cannabis, are not trying to reduce drinking, or have medical reasons to avoid cannabis are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be invited because you have alcohol use disorder and currently use high-THC cannabis and want to cut down or quit drinking. You'll be supported to switch to low-THC, higher-CBD cannabis products and followed over time for alcohol use, cravings, anxiety, and biological markers. Your outcomes will be compared to people who continue their usual cannabis use or receive standard care to see which approach leads to better reductions in drinking. The team will use questionnaires, biological samples, and behavioral measures to track changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give people with alcohol problems a safer harm-reduction option and guide clinicians on how to talk about cannabis when helping patients reduce drinking.
How similar studies have gone: Previous evidence is limited and mixed, so this harm-reduction approach is relatively novel with only preliminary support from small studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hutchison, Kent E. — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Hutchison, Kent E.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.