Last updated : March 24, 2025
Alcohol dependency ruins lives, yet alcohol consumption is accepted as a normal part of socializing in our country. That’s evident in the fact that alcohol sales surpassed $37 billion in 2022 alone. People who consume alcohol regularly build up a tolerance to it. This means that they need to get more and, eventually, even more alcohol into their system to achieve the desired effect.
Worse, the brain eventually accepts the substance as being a “normal” presence in the system. It’s known as developing a dependency. When this happens and there is no alcohol to be found, it begins sending out distress signals, otherwise known as withdrawal symptoms. Some say that consuming THC drinks may prevent, or greatly lessen these symptoms.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms range in seriousness and can include any or all of the following:
- Headaches
- Mood changes
- Feeling irritated or aggravated
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Sleep disruption
- Rapid heart rate
- Rise in blood pressure
- Shaking
- Profuse sweating
- Upset stomach
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Worse, for those who are “drying out” and consumed large amounts of alcohol, delirium tremens (DTs) could cause serious symptoms that could be life-threatening.
They are:
- Inability to think clearly
- Trouble focusing
- Not knowing where you are
- Unable to recall the date
- Trouble speaking to and understanding others
- Sudden bursts of anger or violence
- Unusually slow movements
- Decreased facial expression
- Apathy
Many people who decide to quit drinking don’t seek in-patient care and when the withdrawal symptoms intensify, they wind up buying more alcohol to appease them. Most likely, they intend to “ration” themselves and wean themselves off, but, sadly, it often results in backsliding.
Are THC drinks a possible solution?
There’s no question that millennials and Gen Z don’t intend to become slaves to alcohol dependency. The “NoLo” movement—no and low alcohol—is driving the demand for alternatives to alcoholic beverages.
The marijuana industry was quick to step up to the plate creating drinks infused with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The drinks are showing up in states that have legalized recreational marijuana and are growing in popularity.
Overall, cannabis use is becoming more prevalent than alcohol. A 2022 poll determined that those who ingest THC daily in some form exceed the number of people who consume alcohol daily.
Some experts claim that THC drinks can also be used to free those struggling with addiction or who use alcohol as a means of pain relief. Meenakshi Subbaraman, a biostatistician at the Public Health Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, found that THC fully or partially meets six of the seven requirements for an effective substitute medication.
In an interview with Forbes, she was quoted as saying, “I think there are certain circumstances or situations in which cannabis can serve as an effective substitute.” She believes the ultimate key to overall success is having the motivation to stop drinking.
The advantages of THC drinks
Beverages infused with THC don’t pose the potential health risks that extended alcohol consumption causes. Moreover, it allows people to interact socially without the negative effects of an alcohol buzz. We all know the signs of someone having “one too many”—slurred speech, emotional outbursts, stumbling, staggering, and eventually passing out. Moreover, there is no hangover to deal with the next day.
THC drinks require individuals to be at least twenty-one years old to purchase them. However, it’s reported that some states, such as Minnesota and Iowa allow the sale of these beverages even though recreational marijuana laws don’t exist. The drinks must contain less than 0.3% THC though.
The amount of THC contained in these infused drinks has a wide range with an average between 5 and 25 milligrams per can. The average popular recreational drink contains around 10 milligrams and micro doses range between 2.5 and 5 milligrams per drink.
Time will tell
Cannabis products haven’t been around long enough to determine whether or not there are any long-term risks associated with them. Nor can it be determined that they are safer to consume than alcohol. Until there are clinical studies done, consumers are encouraged to err on the side of caution and use moderation.
THC drinks have a psychoactive effect on the human body. It’s important to be mindful of the effects they have on you, personally. To consume responsibly, start with a low dose and gradually increase if needed. Note the potency of your drink and whether or not consumption seems to interact with any medications you may be taking.
The overall call
For the moment, it appears safe to say that THC drinks could benefit someone who is trying to overcome an addiction to alcohol. The psychoactive effects of THC can help ease the withdrawal symptoms that alcohol dependency causes and if someone is motivated to quit drinking, it can be enough to help them kick the habit for good.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that only 10% of those who regularly consume THC form a substance use disorder. This compares to the statistic that 1 in 3 American adults who drink are classified as excessive drinkers or 1 in 30 who become habitually dependent on alcohol.
This reinforces the belief that those who suffer from alcoholism could successfully segue to THC drinks as part of their rehabilitation program. If you are considering this alternative or know someone who is, we’re here hoping that it works out well!
