Phase 2 N=157 Randomized Double-blind Basic Science

Marijuana's Impact on Alcohol Motivation and Consumption

Alcohol Drinking · Marijuana

Bottom Line

View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02983773 ↗

Enrolled (actual)

157

Serious AEs

0.0%

Results posted

Apr 2026

Primary outcome: Primary: Alcohol Craving — 2.54; 2.64; 2.65; 2.55 units on a scale

Study Design & Population

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 2
Interventions: THC 7.2% (Drug); THC 3.1% (Drug); Placebo (Drug)
Age: Adult · 21+ yrs
Sex: All
Sponsor: Brown University
Primary completion: Jul 2021

Outcome Measures

Outcome	Result	p-value
PRIMARY Alcohol Craving	2.54; 2.64; 2.65; 2.55; 2.64; 2.67	—
SECONDARY Percent of Total Available Alcohol Consumed	26.61; 29.52; 36.25	—

Summary

This laboratory study will employ a repeated measures experimental design to examine the effect of high (7.2% THC) and moderate (3.1% THC) dose of marijuana, relative to placebo, on alcohol craving and on behavioral economic measure of alcohol demand after exposure to alcohol cues, and on subsequent drinking in an alcohol choice task in which participants choose either to drink or receive monetary reinforcement for drinks not consume. The study will recruit 173 non-treatment seeking heavy episodic alcohol drinkers who smoke marijuana at least twice weekly.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Age 21 to 44
English-speaking
marijuana smoking in past month
report of current heavy episodic (binge) drinking
in good physical health and weighing 20 tobacco cigarettes per day
positive pregnancy test
nursing
positive urine toxicology screen for drugs other than cannabis
interest to quit or receive treatment for marijuana or alcohol use
meeting criteria for a current affective disorder (depression, or mania, panic disorder, and having psychotic symptoms as assessed by the SCID)

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02983773). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.