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A sweeping review of 265,000+ people finds cannabis users are about twice as likely to commit violence — and 1.5x more likely to become victims of it. Researchers from King's College London say the association is strong, though not necessarily causal. They're calling for mental health services and public health messaging to start factoring in this risk.
A large-scale review led by King's College London has found a significant link between cannabis use and violence — both as a perpetrator and as a victim. Pulling data from 63 studies covering more than 265,000 people, researchers found that cannabis users in the general population were roughly twice as likely to commit a violent act compared to non-users. Among people in psychiatric care, that figure rose to 2.5 times more likely.
The review also found that cannabis users were about 1.5 times more likely to become victims of violence, with the association being stronger among women. Importantly, the researchers stress this is a correlation, not proof of direct causation — other factors like alcohol use, other drug use, and difficult social circumstances often co-occur with cannabis use.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: As cannabis legalization spreads globally, public discourse has largely centered on risks to the individual user. This review argues that violence — both perpetrating and experiencing it — must be part of that conversation. Researchers are urging mental health services to routinely screen for cannabis use when assessing violence risk.
