Taking cannabis is legal in several countries, but long-term use and addiction can have negative health consequences.Credit: Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty
Through analysis of over a million genomes, researchers have discovered potential genetic links to cannabis addiction. What’s more, they have found that some of these same genetic regions are associated with other health conditions, including lung cancer and schizophrenia.
The discoveries suggest that an increase in cannabis use could pose significant public health risks, as stated by Daniel Levey, a medical neuroscientist at Yale University. These findings were published in Nature Genetics1.
While recreational cannabis use is legal in eight countries, 48 countries have legalized its medicinal use for conditions such as chronic pain, cancer, and epilepsy. However, one-third of cannabis users become addicted or use the drug in a harmful manner. Previous studies have indicated a genetic component and links between problematic cannabis use and certain cancers and mental disorders.
Weighing the dangers of cannabis
According to Levey, drug use and addiction are complex due to the influence of both genetics and environment, making them challenging to study. However, the team was able to incorporate genetic information from various sources, including the Million Veterans Program, enabling them to include multiple ethnic groups in their analysis – a first for a genetic study focusing on cannabis misuse.
In addition to identifying potential genes involved, researchers discovered a bi-directional link between excessive cannabis use and schizophrenia, indicating a mutual influence between the two conditions. This finding is intriguing and could be used to identify and support individuals at a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders due to cannabis use.
Study co-author Joel Gelernter, a psychiatric geneticist at Yale University, emphasizes the importance of further research to better understand the health risks associated with both medical and recreational cannabis use. This, along with more information on the biological mechanisms linking cannabis use and health conditions, will provide a stronger basis for policy and medical practice.
Gelernter and Di Forti agree on the importance of investigating the specifics of how cannabis is administered and the amount of the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) consumed by users.
