Cannabis dependence causes disability across the globe. It is a disorder primarily experienced by young adults, and our estimates suggest that burden is higher in high income countries. It has not been shown to increase mortality as opioid and other forms of illicit drug dependence do. Nonetheless, in some countries cannabis dependence produces more years lived with disability than drugs like amphetamines and cocaine, largely because rates of cannabis use are higher than for the stimulant drugs. Our estimates suggest that cannabis use as a risk factor for schizophrenia is not a major contributor to population level disease burden.
