A New Approach to Researching the Etiology of Cannabis Use Disorder: Integrating Transmissible and Nontransmissible Risk Within a Developmental Framework

ABSTRACT. Rapidly occurring changes in law enforcement and licensing of retail outlets to sell marijuana raises the prospect that the population of consumers will expand and accordingly the prevalence of cannabis use disorder (CUD) will increase. This report presents a novel approach to researching CUD etiology joining multivariate and ontogenetic perspectives. CUD is conceptualized as a developmental outcome consisting of transmissible (intergenerational) and nontransmissible components. Partitioning the liability for CUD into these 2 dimensions enables implementing interventions targeted at the particular source and severity of risk. In addition, results showing that infant temperament disturbances predict transmissible risk leading to CUD 2 decades later underscore the importance of implementing early prevention.