Fast 30 % der Menschen, die Cannabis probieren, entwickeln anschließend eine Substanzstörung | Forscher haben zwei Schlüsselgene identifiziert, die mit einer Reihe physiologischer und psychiatrischer Störungen in Zusammenhang stehen, die mit langfristigem und häufigem Cannabiskonsum in Zusammenhang stehen.
https://newatlas.com/mental-health/genes-predict-cannabis-marijuana-addiction/
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From the article: It’s estimated that nearly 30% of people who try cannabis will go on to develop a substance use disorder associated with it. Strong predictors include how often a person uses it, and whether they have a family history of drug use.
Now, researchers have identified specific regions of the human genome connected to cannabis use, which means the propensity to get addicted to weed may be encoded in DNA.
That’s from a study conducted by scientists at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine working in the field of psychiatry, in partnership with genetic testing firm 23andMe. Nearly 132,000 participants from the latter’s platform opted into a survey about their cannabis use, along with volunteering their genetic data.
This type of study is known as a genome-wide association study (GWAS); it compares the DNA of thousands of people to find genetic variations that are more common in those with a particular trait or condition. It’s essentially a massive search across the entire human genome to spot which genetic differences might be linked to things like diseases, behaviors, or physical characteristics.
GWAS-based research has previously helped establish a causal link between gut bacteria and insomnia, find nearly 300 gene variants that contribute to developing major depressive disorder, and map the genetic blueprint that leads to age-related decline in resilience in people above age 65.
The paper, which appeared in the journal Molecular Psychiatry [this week](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-025-03219-2), points to two key genes that were linked to lifetime cannabis use, as well as a range of conditions. The first one, known as Cell Adhesion Molecule 2 (CADM2), has previously been linked to impulsive personality, obesity, and cancer metastasis.
The second gene, called Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 3 (GRM3), has been linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Being linked to these conditions doesn’t mean that using cannabis will lead to these disorders, but simply that „some biological pathways may be in common“ between them and cannabis use, noted study co-author Abraham A. Palmer.
30%? A lot higher than the typical 10% you hear. What is their definition?
Meanwhile, „Cannabidiol may ease Alzheimer’s-related brain inflammation and improve cognition.“ „Long-term, frequent use“ and „substance use disorder“ could very easily slip into false equivalency land.
Many people use cannabis in place of harder, more problematic substances like opiates or alcohol because the negative side effects are exponentially worse with the ladder.
I know this isn’t specifically saying cannabis is a gateway drug, but that might be a lot of people’s take away from reading this.
I wonder if that 30% are predisposed to being conservative. If so, that would explain conservatives‘ obsession with seeing cannabis as a „gateway drug“.
What does “addicted to weed” and “lifetime cannabis use” actually mean though? I smoke about once a month. Am I a lifetime user?
Nothing like alcohol lololololol
Anyone have a link to a free version of the actual study? The one the article linked is paywalled.
If not careful most will likely conclude from the title ”cannabis causes addiction in 30%”. But what’s to say cannabis is the catalyst for anything here? Maybe the genes lead to the cannabis use? Just a small reminder in interpreting what you read
Chronic weed smoking is terrible. The few hard core stoners I know of are ex addicts or have severe mental issues. Of course it’s a hastle to get in my state (illegal).
What frustrates me about comparisons like that, isn’t their validity, but imagine if we did similar comparisons to normal smoking or coffee.
And even here in this article it is talking about a marijuana use disorder, not harder drugs.
So again, what would the numbers be for smoking and or coffee?
Drug users are also commonly smokers and coffee drinkers. Is 30% of people who drank water went on to develop a substance abuse disorder a sane head line?
Is there also some element where marijuana is not fully destigmatised and thus closely linked to illicit/harder drugs I. e not seen as medicine and so people can make an easy step to other non prescribed self medications and then onto addiction.
Is the weed the problem here? Surely the kind of people who try any drug are more likely to have a substance abuse problem later? Would the same people have just latched on to alcohol before marijuana became common?
And long-term/frequent cannabis use is better than almost any other substance use, which the same people would be predisposed to either way. The other most widely available substance would be alcohol.
For me it was better than antidepressant „use,“ even. And also managed lots of other way worse addictions.
Plus just as a side note ACE etc. life experience is probably way more relevant than two genes could ever be
This is bs I’ve smoked weed for 20 years and never once wanted anything else besides alcohol
Cannabis is a gateway drug. Classified as a drug, unlike alcohol. That alone lends itself to a likelihood of trying ‘other drugs’ if one’s experience with cannabis is both good and in the presence of like minded individuals.
I have never met a young person who smokes cannabis only. An older person, who is introduced to marijuana is more likely to not move onto traditional mainstream recreational drugs.
TLDR; It’s a gateway drug for young users.
Anecdotal evidence from my younger pot smoking days seem to collaborate this. But with a caveat, most of the people who started to use an unhealthy amount of cannabis usually cut back or stopped completely after a few years.
Is there anything in the study about the prevalence of the reported substance use disorder?
Huh so it’s a gateway drug after all?
„Always has been.“
And also probably:
If you’re willing to reach for weed in the first place there are probably things in your life that would make you seek other substances for relief