Cannabis and Video Games: A Duo That Doesn't Always Play on the Same Team

Some say that video games and cannabis form a refuge or a kind of sensory shelter in fast-paced times. But when science delves into this encounter, what it finds is more questions than answers. A new review of studies points out: this relationship is real, but much more complex than it seems.

According to a new review published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions, the relationship between video game use and cannabis is far from simple or automatic.

25 studies published between 2000 and 2025 were analyzed, and what was discovered was a symphony of diverse results: some studies showed a positive relationship between gaming and consuming cannabis, others found no connection at all, and some even noticed an inverse relationship.

What exists, in fact, is a fog of inconsistencies, both in how gaming is measured and in cannabis consumption. After all, what is playing video games? Do mobile games count? Casual ones? Only console games? And cannabis use: is once in a lifetime enough? Once a month? Problematic use?