Genetic, Social, and Environmental Factors Shaping Early Cannabis Use in Youth
Official title: Genetic, Environmental, and Social Interactions Shaping Early Cannabis Use (GENESIS): Decoding Predictive Factors Among U.S. Youth
Funded at Baylor University · NIH-11453679 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study with young people will look at how genes, surroundings, and behavior come together to predict who might start using cannabis early and how to prevent it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waco, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $310,722 |
| NIH project number | 1R03DA064946-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11453679 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents, including diverse populations, who may be at risk for early cannabis use.
✕Less likely to help
Young people not at risk or not engaging with prevention programs may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project seeks to understand how genetic risk, social contexts, and environmental factors combine to influence early cannabis initiation among adolescents. The team will use advanced prediction models that integrate genetics with behavioral and environmental data to identify youth at higher risk. The goal is to inform precision prevention strategies that can be tailored to individuals and diverse populations. The study will build and test cross-ancestry polygenic risk scores to improve how genetic risk is understood in non-European groups. Participants would contribute data that could ultimately help design targeted prevention efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to personalized prevention approaches that reduce early cannabis use and its associated health and social harms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous prevention efforts reduced youth substance use, but this project is among the first to combine genetics with social and environmental factors for cannabis initiation.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor University
Waco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jones, Stephanie — Baylor University
- Study coordinator: Jones, Stephanie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Hemp-derived CBD for reducing cannabis use in high-THC concentrate users
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial tests whether hemp-derived CBD can help adults who mainly use high-potency cannabis concentrates reduce their cannabis use.
-
Understanding how minority stress affects cannabis use in sexual minorities
A research project follows young adult sexual minorities to see how daily stress and coping help explain cannabis use and related problems.
-
Terminal cannabinoid CB1 receptor changes in schizophrenia and cannabis use
This grant studies how cannabis use and schizophrenia together affect a brain receptor (CB1) and what that could mean for memory and symptoms.
-
Cannabis policies and prenatal cannabis use: how laws affect moms and babies
This grant studies how changes in recreational cannabis laws influence cannabis use during pregnancy and health outcomes for mothers and children.
-
Cannabis use and how young adults feel about its effects
This grant helps a researcher study how young adults experience cannabis, including both positive and negative effects, and how these feelings relate to use patterns.
-
Perinatal drinking and cannabis use patterns across pregnancy and postpartum
This project looks at how drinking and cannabis use change before, during, and after pregnancy to understand risks for moms and babies.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.