Alcohol-dependent subjects who consume cannabis possess a significantly lower risk of being diagnosed with liver injuries such as cirrhosis, according to data published in the scientific journal Liver International.
Investigators from the United States, Canada and Chile assessed the impact of cannabis use on alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) in a group of 33,114 alcohol-dependent adults.
ALD comprises a spectrum of progressive liver injuries, including steatosis, steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. Study participants were segregated into separate cohorts of heavy cannabis consumers, moderate consumers and non-cannabis consumers.
“Cannabis use was associated with a 40% hazard reduction in the composite ALD, including alcohol-associated steatosis, hepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis, as well as a 17% reduction in hepatic decompensation and a 14% reduction in all-cause mortality” researchers reported.
Those participants who consumed cannabis most frequently experienced the greatest risk reduction, suggesting “a dose-response relationship [and] … a potential protective association between cannabis use and ALD”.
The study’s authors concluded: “Cannabis use was linked to lower risks of ALD, liver-related complications and death compared to non-cannabis users. These findings suggest the cannabinoid system may represent a promising therapeutic target for ALD”.
1 November, 2025