Yale Study Identifies Genetic Link to Cannabis Use Disorder
Research reveals connections between specific genetic variants and risk of developing cannabis use disorder, schizophrenia, and potentially lung cancer.
- Yale researchers have identified genetic variants linked to cannabis use disorder (CUD) in a study of over 1 million genomes, the largest of its kind.
- The study found that variants of genes encoding for three types of neuronal receptors were associated with an elevated risk for developing CUD.
- Genetic correlations revealed a two-way relationship between CUD and schizophrenia.
- The study also found a potential genetic link between CUD and a higher likelihood of developing lung cancer, though further research is needed to separate the impacts of tobacco smoking and environmental factors from those of cannabis use.
- The findings raise questions about the balance between the benefits of using cannabis for pain relief and the potential risks of developing CUD.
Benzinga 
New Scientist 