Genetic Study Reveals Links Between Cannabis Use And Mental Health

University of California San Diego of Medicine researchers, successful collaboration pinch nan familial testing institution 23andMe, person identified regions of nan quality genome associated pinch cannabis use, uncovering caller relationships pinch psychiatric, cognitive and beingness health. The findings whitethorn pass nan improvement of prevention and curen strategies for cannabis usage disorder. The study was published connected October 13, 2025 successful Molecular Psychiatry.

Cannabis is wide used, but its semipermanent effects connected wellness stay poorly characterized."

Sandra Sanchez-Roige, Ph.D., subordinate professor of psychiatry, UC San Diego School of Medicine and elder writer of nan study 

The researchers were besides willing successful nan narration betwixt genetics and traits that lend to nan improvement of cannabis usage disorder, which tin interfere pinch a person's regular life.

"While astir group who effort cannabis do not spell connected to create cannabis usage disorder, immoderate studies estimate that astir 30% will," said Sanchez-Roige. "Understanding nan genetics of early-stage behaviors whitethorn thief explain who is astatine greater risk, opening nan doorway to prevention and involution strategies."

The investigation squad conducted a genome-wide relation study (GWAS) analyzing relationships betwixt cannabis usage and familial information provided by 131,895 23andMe investigation participants. They answered study questions astir whether aliases not they had ever utilized cannabis, and those who answered yes were besides asked really often they utilized nan drug.

"We've known for decades that familial factors power whether aliases not group will effort drugs, really often they usage those drugs, and nan consequence that they will go addicted to them," said Abraham A. Palmer, Ph.D., professor and vice chair for basal investigation successful nan section of psychiatry astatine UC San Diego School of Medicine and co-author of nan study. "Genetic devices for illustration GWAS thief america place nan molecular systems that link cannabis usage to encephalon usability and behavior."

The study recovered that life cannabis usage was associated pinch 2 genes. The first was Cell Adhesion Molecule 2 (CADM2), a cistron progressive successful compartment assembly and successful signaling betwixt nervus cells, peculiarly successful nan brain. Previous studies person linked CADM2 to various traits and conditions, including impulsive personality, obesity and cancer metastasis. Frequency of cannabis usage was besides recovered to beryllium associated pinch nan CADM2 gene.

The 2nd cistron was Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 3 (GRM3), which is progressive successful connection betwixt neurons and semipermanent encephalon plasticity. GRM3 has already been linked to psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

"We showed that nan genetics of cannabis usage - some trying it and utilizing it much often - are tied to nan genetics of different psychiatric traits, cognitive measures, and moreover beingness wellness problems," said Sanchez-Roige.

A secondary study revealed an further 40 genes associated pinch life cannabis usage and 4 genes associated pinch wave of cannabis use. Twenty-nine of these genes had not antecedently been associated pinch cannabis-related traits.

The researchers past analyzed which wellness conditions were correlated pinch a familial predisposition for cannabis use. They analyzed thousands of traits successful 2 ample independent datasets from nan National Institutes of Health's (NIH) All of Us Research Program and Vanderbilt University Medical Center's biobank.

Across nan genome, life cannabis usage and wave of cannabis usage were genetically correlated pinch much than 100 different traits including psychiatric conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, ADHD, worry and depression), cognitive traits (e.g., executive usability and risk-taking) and beingness wellness (e.g., diabetes, chronic pain and coronary artery disease). They were besides associated pinch an accrued consequence for baccy use, infectious diseases including HIV and viral hepatitis, and autoimmune diseases.

The study is 1 of nan first genome-wide relation studies to analyse behaviors that precede cannabis usage disorder.

"Cannabis usage exists connected a continuum," said first writer Hayley Thorpe, Ph.D., a visiting clever clever successful Sanchez-Roige's laboratory and postdoctoral interrogator astatine Western University. "By studying these intermediate traits, we tin statesman to representation really familial consequence unfolds earlier cannabis usage upset develops."

There are presently nary FDA-approved supplier therapies to dainty cannabis usage disorder. The authors dream that nan biologic discoveries generated by GWAS will support early efforts to place therapeutic targets and preventative interventions against nan disorder.

Additional co-authors connected nan study include: John J. Meredith, Mariela V. Jennings, Renata B. Cupertino, Shreya Pakala, UC San Diego; Pierre Fontanillas, Sarah L. Elson and nan 23andMe Research Team astatine 23andMe, Inc.; Jibran Y. Khokhar, Western University; Emma C. Johnson, Washington University successful St. Louis; and Lea K. Davis, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 

The study was funded, successful part, by nan National Institutes of Institute connected Drug Abuse (grants R01 DA050721, P50DA037844 and P30DA060810) astatine nan NIH, and nan Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (grant T32IR5226).

The 23andMe Research participants provided informed consent and volunteered to participate successful nan investigation online, nether a protocol approved by nan Association for Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP)-accredited Salus IRB.