Two recent surveys highlighted changes in alcohol and cannabis consumption following cannabis legalization. A government survey based on data from Health Canada and a separate market research study conducted by Numerator indicated a reduction in alcohol intake after cannabis legalization in Canada and several U.S. states with adult-use cannabis policies.
The researchers analyzed data from Health Canada and showed that approximately 25% of adults who consume both cannabis and alcohol report decreased use of alcohol following cannabis legalization. This number increased from 15% of adults in 2020, just two years after Canada legalized adult-use cannabis in 2018.
The Numerator survey found that 36% of U.S. cannabis users report drinking less following state-level cannabis legalization. The survey included 6,000 present and past cannabis users, and some of the survey questions focused on their spending habits. Daily cannabis users reported spending 15.3% of their grocery dollars on alcohol, while occasional users spent 18.1%, and non-users spent 14.3%.
Many cannabis policy reform advocates believe that the findings suggest significant substance use changes. According to NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: “Several studies have examined whether cannabis is more likely to act as either a substitute or as a compliment for alcohol and, thus far, they have yielded mixed results. These surveys’ findings are an important addition to this growing body of literature and offer support for the notion that, in some instances, cannabis can act as an intervention for certain persons seeking to reduce their alcohol consumption.” One reason that many adults may be substituting cannabis for alcohol is the perception that cannabis poses fewer health risks than alcohol.
Several studies have indicated that the number of adults who report daily or near-daily cannabis use exceeds those who report daily alcohol consumption. Many states with adult-use cannabis programs have noticed a decrease in alcohol sales following legalization. These surveys shed light on consumption behaviors that can inform policy development as an increasing number of countries and U.S. states legalize recreational cannabis use.
Sources: Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, NORML, Numerator
