Men Crave Cannabis After A Few Drinks

Sipping and trippin’ is one of the best combos ever made. Beer and cannabis go together very well for many of us—hops and marijuana are from the same plant family, after all—but in this case, the majority of "us" are men. That is, if you feel beer and marijuana go well together and find yourself reaching for the cannabis vape or purchasing yet another packet of rolling papers after a few IPAs, you are most likely a male.

As evidenced by the findings of a recent study, there are differences in marijuana cravings between men and women.

According to a study published last month in the journal Experimental and Clinical Psychology, men were more likely than women to want to consume cannabis after a few drinks. This is only one of a growing list of "sex-dependent" consequences linked to marijuana usage that experts have discovered—a disturbing reality with repercussions for the cannabis industry. These findings may explain why, despite substantial attempts to advertise marijuana products to both women and older Americans, the average recreational cannabis purchaser is still a young male. It also implies that, at least among certain users, cannabis isn't always a substitute for alcohol, or vice versa—that the two substances work in tandem. (Or, at the very least, alcohol increases men's need for THC.)

But how and why do biological differences influence cannabis consumption behaviors, and how do we know?

While sober, participants expressed a "desire to consume cannabis and alcohol." They were then asked if their "desire" to smoke pot had changed after a few "drinks"—a 12-proof combination of ethanol alcohol and saline supplied through IV. Prior to the study, researchers predicted that both men and women would feel compelled to consume cannabis after a few beers, with men having a stronger desire. Reduced inhibitions and all that, and it's also in line with previous research that suggests "sex variations" in substance-abusing behaviors. Only men had a strong and continuous increased desire to get stoned when their blood alcohol percentage was higher.
"What was interesting was that this wasn't necessarily proving that males react differently to cannabis; it was showing how their reactions to alcohol impacted their desire for cannabis," said researcher Alex Venegas. "It was particularly interesting that this sex disparity was not noticed until after alcohol had been consumed." In this way, alcohol appears to be a pharmacological agent that stimulates cannabis cravings, at least in men.

What is the cause of this, and what role does sex play?

The short answer is that we don't have any idea yet.

Researchers believe that drug users are attempting to get an even buzz. An inclination to smoke marijuana after consuming alcohol could indicate that the user is attempting to balance the "stimulant effects" of the alcohol buzz with the "primarily sedative" effects of cannabis. Anxiety could also be a factor. According to the researchers, women surveyed had higher levels of anxiety, and stress, anxiety, and other similar sentiments have a role in cravings for substances. It's worth noting that seven of the subjects had THC in their systems when they went in for their screenings. Another 7 said they had not used cannabis at all in the previous month.

But, for the time being, there is simply too much evidence to deny that gender does play a role in substance use. At the very least, that explains why the boys' favorite beer garden smells like terpenes.