In a study conducted by the University of Connecticut and Georgia State University, alcohol sales in states where medical marijuana is legal have decreased significantly.
2000 counties across legal states were analysed and a 15% monthly average decrease in alcohol sales was discovered.
The study states;
“States legalizing medical marijuana use experience significant decreases in the aggregate sale of alcohol, beer and wine. Moreover, the effects are not short-lived, with significant reductions observed up to 24 months after the passage of the law.”This study echoes a report published in 2016, which showed beers sales in Colorado, Washington and Oregon "significantly under-performed" compared to years past. It is expected that, as a reaction to dipping sales, alcohol manufacturers will enter the cannabis market, in a bid to win back consumers and bridge the gap between the two substances.