When Does Cannabis Use Become Addictive? Expert Explains How to Help Patients Navigate This Grey Area

For the first time, there are now fewer US states that have not legalized cannabis for either medical or recreational purposes than there are that have. With this in mind, more patients may start using cannabis or be more open about discussing their past and/or current use with their clinician. When does marijuana use (recreational or therapeutic) go from a "once-in-a-while" joint to ease anxiety to addictive? And how can primary care providers navigate this tricky grey area? Research neuroscientist Henry Mahncke, PhD, recently sat down with Patient Care Online to discuss how cannabis use can impact health, and shares his tips for how to help patients safely navigate their cannabis use.

Henry Mahncke, PhD, is the CEO of Posit Science in San Francisco, California. Dr Mahncke has been the principal investigator on several government grants and has been involved in numerous research studies on the impact of cognitive training on older adults.