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How can cannabis use lead to a substance use disorder?

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drug use The use of psychoactive drugs, such as pain medications or illegal substances, often results in emotional, physical, and social harm.

Cannabis use can lead to a substance use disorder through chronic, habitual, or patterned use that impairs an individual's psychological and physical function. While some older perspectives suggested marijuana does not lead to physical dependence, current clinical understanding recognizes that cannabis can induce tolerance and dependence.1

The development of this disorder involves complex interactions between biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Repeated use of cannabis is associated with changes in brain function, where neurons adapt to the substance. Specifically, cannabis use can trigger surges of the neurotransmitter dopamine within the brain’s reward circuit. This process reinforces the behavior, as the brain begins to crave the pleasurable or euphoric sensations associated with the drug, eventually driving compulsive use.213

Risk factors that may influence the development of a disorder include genetic predisposition, underlying psychiatric conditions like anxiety or depression, and social or environmental stressors, such as early exposure during adolescence.12