Psychotomimetic effects at initiation of cannabis use are associated with cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) variants in healthy students

International audience; Cannabis induces a diverse range of subjective experiences including relaxation, anxiety, euphoria, sadness, cognitive difficulties and psychotic-like symptoms. In addition, although cannabis use is associated with an overall twofold increased risk of subsequent psychotic disorders, all individuals are not at equal risk of developing psychosis when exposed to cannabis. Inconsistent results have been reported regarding the influence of variants in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene2,3 or in other genes of interest, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1)4,5 and more convincingly, v-Akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT1). Inter-individual variability in subjective experience is already present at initiation of cannabis use and could reflect intrinsic personal characteristics.