Could CBD Protect Livers of Heavy Drinkers?

MONDAY, Nov. 24, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A study of more than 66,000 U.S. adults finds that heavy drinkers who also used cannabis were less likely to develop liver disease than those who drank heavily without using weed.

While the study authors were quick to say that this isn't a recommendation to start smoking cannabis, the CBD component of the plant might help protect imperiled livers.

"CBD appears to calm inflammation and reduce some of the chemical signals that drive liver scarring," said study senior author Dr. Juan Pablo Arab. "Our findings show that real-world cannabis use may have some of these same protective effects in people who drink heavily."

He directs alcohol sciences at the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health, part of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond. His team published their findings recently in the journal Liver International.

It's long been known that alcohol overconsumption takes a toxic toll on the liver. In fact, alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a leading cause of liver-related death worldwide.

In the new study, the VCU team tracked the liver health of a group of over 66,000 people over the course of three years. All of the participants had been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder between 2010 and 2022.

They were divided into three groups: One where participants also had been diagnosed with cannabis use disorder; a second where participants used cannabis but weren't dependent; and a third who did not use cannabis at all.

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