The Washington Post (10/13, Ovalle) reports a study published in Molecular Psychiatry found the “tendency to use cannabis is associated with genes linked to impulsive behavior, obesity, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, among other traits.” The research “explored the genetic traits of casual and frequent cannabis users in hopes of eventually identifying medications and other therapies to treat or prevent problematic marijuana use.” One gene associated with cannabis use identified by researchers “is involved in brain development and communication between neurons and has been linked to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.” Meanwhile, “another gene is involved with signaling between nerve cells, particularly in the brain, and has been linked in previous studies to impulsive personality, obesity and cancer metastasis. The gene has also been associated with frequency of cannabis use, researchers said.”
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