The drug has been used in the US for over a hundred years. But it is just recently become legal in some US states and other countries.
“We observed associations between cumulative marijuana use and multiple epigenetic markers across time,” explained Lifang Hou, an epidemiologist from Northwestern University, when the research was published in 2023.
The Epigenomic System
The epigenome acts as a set of switches, turning genes on or off to influence how our bodies function. The study focused on these epigenetic changes, particularly DNA methylation levels, in individuals who had used cannabis recently or over an extended period.
DNA methylation is one of the most studied forms of epigenetic modification. It involves adding or removing methyl groups from DNA, which alters gene activity without changing the genomic sequence. These molecular changes make it more difficult for cells to read the genome’s instructions, potentially affecting how the body functions.
Environmental and lifestyle factors, including cannabis use, can trigger these methylation changes. Importantly, these changes can be passed down to future generations.
