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New research suggests that the use of marijuana may lower the use of alcohol, opioids and methamphetamine. The research focused on the effect of marijuana consumption on individuals’ use of other drugs.
For their research, the investigators surveyed over 23,000 individuals in New Zealand via Facebook. They asked participants whether their use of marijuana had impacted their consumption of other substances.
The investigators found that most participants reported that marijuana use led to 60% less use of alcohol, 60% less use of synthetic cannabinoids, 44% less use of morphine, and 40% less use of methamphetamine.
In their report, they added that the results varied by demographics as well as substance. For example, almost 70% of individuals reported that marijuana had no effect on the use of cocaine, MDMA, or LSD. A third of tobacco and marijuana co-users also reported using less tobacco while one in five of them admitted that using cannabis actually increased their use of tobacco.
The investigators also found that substituting marijuana for other drugs was more popular among those aged 21-35, noting that they were more likely to report that marijuana had reduced their consumption of meth and alcohol. Individuals living in cities and students were less likely to report that marijuana had decreased their use of other substances.
Meanwhile, marijuana use by those aged between 16-20 offered mixed results. The investigators found that this group was more likely to report that marijuana use was resulting in less as well as more use of other drugs in comparison to having no effect.
They also found that those aged 21-25 were more likely to report that marijuana use had resulted in reduced use of MDMA, meth, and alcohol.
With regard to the indigenous Māori population in New Zealand, the investigators found that respondents were more likely to report that the use of marijuana decreased their intake of LSD, meth, tobacco and alcohol.
The substitution effect is becoming more popular, not only as a subject for research but also as a niche to be observed by players in the market. A Bloomberg Intelligence report highlights that the expansion of the cannabis legalization movement will continue posing a threat to the alcohol industry as more individuals substitute alcohol with marijuana.
This comports with results from another study, which found that marijuana legalization was linked to a reduction in beer sales. Another survey on the use of alcohol vs. cannabis found that individuals perceived marijuana as less harmful than alcohol, nicotine vapes and tobacco.
Cannabis industry actors like Canopy Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: CGC) (TSX: WEED) are likely to welcome these studies that go against what prohibitions often assert; saying marijuana use is a gateway to harder drugs.
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