Psience Quest

One of the genes behind cannabis use disorder identified

Bob Yirka

Quote:A large team of researchers with members from Denmark, Iceland and the U.S. has isolated a gene associated with cannabis use disorder (CUD). In their paper published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the group describes their genome-wide association study surrounding CUD and what they found.

For many years, users of cannabis claimed that it was not addictive. More recent research has suggested that such claims are both right and wrong. Most people who consume cannabis do not become addicted, but some do. Prior research has found that approximately 10 percent of users have CUD—when they stop using cannabis, they experience withdrawal symptoms similar in some respects to withdrawal from other drugs. Symptoms include cravings and engaging in behavior to fulfill their need. This finding has added evidence to theories that there is a genetic component involved in addiction. In this new effort, the researchers sought to find that possible genetic component for CUD.

This sounds ridiculous. I seriously doubt there's a gene that's responsible, and it's more, something else.

Cannabis is known to cause withdrawal symptoms. It's more of a mental addiction rather than a physical one, but it's possible for there to be a physical component of dependence.

I know, because I've experienced this myself.