Hollis Karoly, PhD and Patti Davies, PhD
Associate Professor at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
This is pioneering research aimed at understanding the combined effects of alcohol and cannabis concentrates
A groundbreaking study currently underway in Colorado, led by Dr. Hollis Karoly, Assistant Professor at Colorado State University Fort Collins, is examining the effects of combining alcohol with high-potency cannabis concentrates – research that has never been conducted before. As recreational cannabis legalization spreads across states, concentrated cannabis products containing up to 95% THC have gained significant popularity, yet scientific understanding of these products remains limited.
“The reason that we’re doing this study is that as legalization of recreational cannabis has happened here in Colorado and in other states, concentrated cannabis products have gotten really popular. People are using them. People are buying them, but we have very limited research on these products,” explains Dr. Karoly.
While some recent studies have begun investigating the effects of cannabis concentrates on intoxication and psychomotor performance – factors relevant to driving safety – this is the first to examine what happens when people combine these potent products with alcohol, a common consumption pattern among users.
Now approximately two-thirds complete, this three-year study aims to include between 60-80 participants, with about 40 already enrolled. Dr. Karoly’s research team carefully selects participants who are both regular cannabis users and heavy drinkers to ensure they aren’t introducing unfamiliar substances to volunteers.
The project director, who joined several months ago, oversees daily operations and coordinates with undergraduate assistants, graduate students, and other researchers handling recruitment, screening, and data analysis. Their team is particularly interested in measuring the psychomotor effects of this combination on individuals.
Upon completion, Dr. Karoly plans to publish the findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals to inform the broader research community. “There’s really no work that we know of other than this study on the effects of alcohol when combined with high-potency cannabis concentrates,” notes Dr. Karoly, highlighting the innovative nature of her work.
This research is made possible through the Institute of Cannabis Research (ICR), which funds innovative, higher-risk pilot studies that might not receive backing from larger organizations like the NIH. The ICR creates opportunities for scientists interested in cannabis research to conduct foundational studies that contribute to the larger field of knowledge – essential work as cannabis products become increasingly mainstream.