Cannabis use disorder, also known as marijuana use disorder, is associated with dependence on the use of weed.
Under the current system of providing medical marijuana cards, people only require written approval by a licensed physician, the latest study said.
The study, published Friday in the journal JAMA Network Open, followed 269 adults from the Boston area with an average age of 37 who wanted to obtain medical marijuana cards.
People who obtained cards immediately were twice as likely to develop cannabis use disorder, the study found.
Those who got cards immediately saw “no significant changes in pain severity or anxiety or depressive symptoms” but did report improvement in insomnia and greater well-being, according to the study.
It’s possible that medical marijuana use may “pose a high risk or may even be contraindicated for people with affective disorders.