Genetic Links to Cannabis Use Uncovered, Offering New Insights into Addiction and Health Risks
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A groundbreaking study has identified specific regions of the human genome associated with cannabis use, revealing potential genetic connections to a wide range of psychiatric, cognitive, and physical health outcomes. Published October 13, 2025, in Molecular Psychiatry, the research offers a crucial step toward understanding the complex interplay between genetics and cannabis use disorder, perhaps paving the way for targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, collaborating with the genetic testing company 23andMe, analyzed data from over 131,000 participants to pinpoint these genetic associations. The findings underscore the growing recognition that susceptibility to cannabis use, and its subsequent impact on health, is not solely a matter of personal choice but is substantially influenced by inherited biological factors.
The Genetic Landscape of Cannabis use
The study employed a genome-wide association study (GWAS), a powerful technique that scans the entire genome for common genetic variations associated with a particular trait. This approach allowed researchers to identify two genes with notable links to lifetime cannabis use: Cell adhesion Molecule 2 (CADM2) and Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 3 (GRM3).
Correlations
The research didn’t stop at identifying genes linked to cannabis use itself. Researchers delved deeper, analyzing correlations between genetic predispositions for cannabis use and a broad spectrum of health conditions. Utilizing data from the National institutes of Health’s (NIH) all of Us Research Program and Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s biobank, they uncovered a striking pattern.
Genetic factors influencing cannabis use were correlated with over 100 different traits, spanning psychiatric conditions – including schizophrenia, ADHD, anxiety, and depression – cognitive abilities like executive function and risk-taking, and physical health concerns such as diabetes, chronic pain, and coronary artery disease. Notably, a genetic predisposition for cannabis use was also associated with increased risks for tobacco use, infectious diseases like HIV and viral hepatitis, and autoimmune diseases.
“We showed that the genetics of cannabis use – both trying it and using it more often – are tied to the genetics of other psychiatric traits, cognitive measures, and even physical health problems,” stated the study’s senior author.
Understanding the Continuum of Use and future Implications
The study emphasizes that cannabis use exists on a spectrum,with varying degrees of frequency and potential for developing cannabis use disorder.Approximately 30% of individuals who try cannabis may develop the disorder, according to estimates.By focusing on the genetic factors influencing early-stage behaviors, researchers hope to identify individuals at higher risk and develop targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
“By studying these intermediate traits, we can begin to map how genetic risk unfolds before cannabis use disorder develops,” explained the study’s first author.
Currently, ther are no FDA-approved drug therapies specifically designed to treat cannabis use disorder.However, the biological discoveries made through this GWAS research offer a promising foundation for identifying potential therapeutic targets and preventative interventions. The findings represent a significant advancement in understanding the genetic underpinnings of cannabis use and its far-reaching consequences for individual and public health.
Additional co-authors on the study include: John J. Meredith, Mariela V. Jennings, Renata B. Cupertino, Shreya Pakala, UC San Diego; Pierre Fontanillas, Sarah L. Elson and the 23andMe Research Team at 23andMe, Inc.; Jibran Y. Khokhar, Western University; Emma C. Johnson, Washington University in St. Louis; and lea K. Davis, Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The study was funded, in part, by the National Institutes of Institute on Drug Abuse (grants R01 DA050721, P50DA037844 and P30DA060810) at the NIH, and the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (grant T32IR5226).
The 23andMe Research participants provided informed consent and volunteered to participate in the research online, under a protocol approved by the Association for Accreditation of Human Research protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP)-accredited Salus IRB.
