Extensive changes in cannabis regulation accompany changing public attitudes toward cannabis use and legalization. Cannabis use is more prevalent when the drug is legal; therefore, there is a substantial need for an evidence-based understanding of the risks associated with cannabinoids. The current chapter reviews the definition of CUD, its prevalence and associated conditions, and the contemporary understanding of its causes to inform policy, prevention efforts, and treatment of CUD in a dynamic and evolving legislative landscape. Studies are currently limited by an absence of standardized methods to characterize cannabis consumption levels as well as compound composition. Understanding the harms associated with cannabis use and CUD will be fundamental in informing policy and supporting clinicians.
Part of the book: Recent Advances in Cannabinoid Research