Cannabis use and delinquent behaviors in a non-clinical sample of adolescents

The aim of the study was to evaluate the contribution of cannabis to the prediction of delinquent behaviors. Participants were 615 high-school students who completed self-report questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that cannabis use was a significant independent predictor of delinquent behaviors after adjustment for alcohol use, psychopathological and socio-familial variables. Cannabis use was associated with greater numbers of delinquent behaviors among adolescents with higher scores on psychopathic traits or depressive symptoms. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.