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A recent study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry has explored how marijuana use might influence the epigenome in the human body. The epigenome, often described as a system of switches, regulates how genes are activated or deactivated, shaping bodily functions.
According to Lifang Hou, a Northwestern University epidemiologist, the study identified a connection between multiple epigenetic markers and long-term cannabis use.
The researchers examined more than 1000 participants who had been involved in an earlier long-term study, which included surveys about their marijuana use spanning two decades. Participants who were between 18 and 30 years old at the study’s outset provided blood samples during two specific intervals—15 years and 20 years into the study.
These samples allowed the researchers to analyze changes in DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism where methyl groups are added or removed from DNA. While this modification does not alter the DNA sequence, it can influence gene activity by affecting how easily cells can interpret genetic instructions.
Lifestyle and environmental factors, including marijuana use, can induce such methylation alterations, which can have far-reaching implications, including potential transmission to future generations. Blood samples provide a snapshot of both recent and historical exposures to such factors, making them a valuable tool for this kind of research.
The study revealed associations between cannabis use and numerous epigenetic markers. For instance, in blood samples collected at the 15-year mark, 22 markers were linked to recent marijuana use, while 31 were linked to long-term use. By the 20-year point, researchers identified 132 markers tied to recent cannabis use and 16 linked to long-term use.
Interestingly, one of these markers had previously been associated with tobacco use, suggesting a potential overlap in how the body regulates epigenetic responses to both substances.
Hou and her team noted that some of the epigenetic changes identified have been connected to processes such as cellular growth, hormone signaling, immune responses, substance use disorders, and neurological conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. However, the study does not establish a direct causal relationship between marijuana use and these changes or health issues.
The findings offer new insights into how marijuana may influence epigenetic factors, according to Drew Nannini, another epidemiologist involved in the study. He emphasized the need for additional research across diverse populations to confirm these associations. Investigating how marijuana affects age-related health issues could also shed light on its long-term health impacts.
This call for additional research is partly the reason why the broader marijuana industry, including firms like SNDL Inc. (NASDAQ: SNDL), has for long advocated for sweeping regulatory changes at the federal level so that it is easier to study marijuana and enable state-level and federal authorities to tweak marijuana laws based on the available science about the benefits and actual risks of this substance.
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