Is Cannabis Use in Your DNA? Study Finds Genetic Links Between Marijuana Use, Impulsivity, and Mental Health
A person smokes cannabis outside the Smacked "pop up" cannabis dispensary location in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
New genetic research is revealing surprising connections between marijuana use, impulsivity, and certain mental health traits — insights that could help guide future addiction treatments.
Scientists at the University of California, San Diego analyzed genetic data from nearly 132,000 participants and found correlations between cannabis use and genes already linked to impulsivity, obesity, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, according to The Washington Post. The findings, published Monday in Molecular Psychiatry, mark one of the largest studies of its kind, with the goal of identifying biological pathways that contribute to problematic marijuana use.
Lead researcher Sandra Sanchez-Roige explained that while most people who use marijuana do not develop cannabis use disorder (a form of addiction), the genetic and environmental risk factors behind it remain unclear. The team discovered dozens of genes tied to an individual’s likelihood of using cannabis — including several never before associated with the drug.
One of the identified genes, GRM3 (Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 3), plays a role in brain development and is also linked to schizophrenia. Another, CADM2 (Cell Adhesion Molecule 2), has been connected to impulsive behavior and obesity, New Atlas reports. Researchers emphasized that these genetic connections do not prove cannabis causes such conditions, but rather that some underlying biological pathways may overlap.
The study arrives as marijuana use continues to rise across the United States. Federal surveys estimate that more than 64 million Americans used cannabis in 2024, with over 20 million experiencing some form of cannabis use disorder.
Experts caution that while the research is promising, the science is still developing. They warn against using genetic testing to predict addiction risk at this stage, noting that addiction results from a complex mix of genetics, environment, and social influences.
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