Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) has expressed concerns over potential changes to federal guidelines that may recommend Americans reduce their alcohol consumption. This critique comes despite Cotton’s staunch opposition to marijuana legalization. As the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) prepares updates to dietary guidance, a study is anticipated to suggest a further decrease in alcohol intake. Cotton criticized the study’s funding, stating, ‘Wasting taxpayer dollars on studies to ban alcohol is exactly why [former President Joe Biden] and his cronies were voted out of the White House.’
It’s important to clarify that the SAMHSA study conducted by its Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) does not seek to impose an outright ban on alcohol. Instead, it aims to provide updated data on the risks associated with alcohol use, which may be included in the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These guidelines are advisory and not legally binding for consumers.
Cotton’s remarks highlight a long-standing frustration among cannabis reform advocates. Many argue that if alcohol is legal and regulated, it contradicts the continued prohibition of marijuana, which numerous studies indicate is comparatively safer and has therapeutic benefits for various patients. If Cotton perceives pursuing a ban on alcohol as a misuse of taxpayer money, it is noteworthy that he does not voice similar concerns about the substantial funding allocated to arresting and prosecuting cannabis-related offenses.
Cotton’s opposition to marijuana legalization has been consistent. He opposed a cannabis legalization initiative that appeared on Arkansas’s 2022 ballot and, while he acknowledged the state’s decision to legalize medical cannabis in 2018, he firmly stated that he does not believe the federal government should decriminalize it. In 2023, he took aim at then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for suggesting criminal justice reforms related to a bipartisan marijuana banking bill, branding Schumer’s approach as lenient toward drug traffickers.
Cotton is not alone in his conflicting views on alcohol and marijuana. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who also opposes cannabis legalization, made headlines earlier this year by expressing his disdain for federal recommendations to limit alcohol consumption to two drinks per week. He remarked, ‘What is it with liberals and wanting to control every damn aspect of your life?’ During an interview, Cruz even took a sip of Shiner Bock beer, underscoring his support for alcohol consumption.
In contrast to these political stances, a recent federally funded study revealed that individuals who consume marijuana before drinking tend to drink less alcohol and experience fewer cravings. This aligns with other surveys indicating that a significant number of young adults are substituting cannabis for alcohol, with 75% reporting this behavior at least once a week. This trend reflects the rapid growth of the hemp product marketplace.
An earlier YouGov survey found that more Americans view regular alcohol use as more harmful than regular cannabis consumption. However, despite these perceptions, more adults reported a preference for alcohol over cannabis, citing health risks. Another study from January revealed that over half of cannabis users reported drinking less alcohol or none at all after using cannabis. Additionally, a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) survey indicated that young adults are nearly three times more likely to use marijuana than alcohol daily.
Research published in the journal Addiction showed that daily marijuana use now surpasses daily alcohol consumption among U.S. adults. A December survey indicated a significant shift in attitudes, with many Americans acknowledging that they substitute cannabis for alcohol, cigarettes, and painkillers as state-level legalization progresses.
In Canada, where cannabis is fully legal, studies suggest that legalization correlates with reduced beer sales, indicating a substitution effect. A Gallup poll found that participants perceive cannabis as less harmful than alcohol, tobacco, and nicotine vapes, with more adults now smoking cannabis than cigarettes. Furthermore, an American Psychiatric Association survey from June highlighted that Americans consider cannabis less dangerous and less addictive than alcohol, opioids, and even technology.
As discussions around alcohol and cannabis continue, the political landscape remains divided, with figures like Cotton and Cruz reinforcing traditional views on alcohol while opposing cannabis reform. Meanwhile, the data increasingly suggests a shift in public perception and consumer behavior favoring cannabis over alcohol.
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