GENETICS OF CANNABIS ADDICTION

Abstract

Addiction to cannabis is characterized by a strong inner urge to use this substance. It is diagnosed when there is daily use of it for at least one month. Cannabis is the third most commonly used drug in the world after alcohol and tobacco. It is used by almost 4% of the world՚s population aged 15-64 years. This showing varies between 2.8% and 5.1% depending on the country and ethnicity. Level of cannabis use and dependence are about twice as high among men as among women.
 The heritability of cannabis addiction is about 55%. There were identified 14 genes that are most significantly involved in this mental disorder: ANKFN1, CHRNA2, CADM2, SDK1, ZNF704, NCAM1, RABEP2, SMG6, INTS7, PI4K2B, CSMD1, CST7, ACSS1 and SCN9A. They are located in different chromosomes and are characterized by the presence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of different localization. Other variants of these genes can be involved in a different number (from 10 to 350) of various, mainly mental disorders and oncological diseases. Candidate genes for cannabis use problems have been identified also ‒ CNR1, GABRA2, FAAH and ABCB1, but attempts to confirm them are still controversial. Nevertheless, it is worth paying attention to two of them ‒ CNR1 and ABCB1, which are directly involved in the metabolism of cannabinoids in the human body.
 In further studies of genetics of cannabis addiction, it is necessary to identify and analyze all biological and individual factors that influence the development of this mental disorder. For this, first of all, it is necessary to identify all the genes involved in the metabolism of cannabis in the human body. In addition, in these studies, it is necessary to use not only genetic, but also epigenetic approaches, the results of which will contribute to the development of new methods of treatment of the disorder.