A study carried out by researchers at Belfast's Queen's University shows that teenagers using cannabis on a regular basis are likely to be male.
They are also likely to come from the lowest socio-economic groups, have poor levels of communication with parents or guardians and have low levels of motivation to do well at school.
The study is part of a long-term research project, involving 4,000 teenagers at 40 schools in Belfast, Ballymena and Downpatrick.
It is one of the largest school-based surveys of its kind and the pupils have been involved in it each year since they entered secondary education.
According to Patrick McCrystal, a Senior Research Fellow, the study shows that at least one in ten children who had reported using cannabis at least once have now become daily users.
Those reporting high levels of cannabis use were also more likely to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol regularly, as well as use other illegal drugs.
Approximately one in six of these users also reported abusing solvents on a weekly basis and nearly 33% used ecstasy each week.
The frequent cannabis users were responsible for almost all use of 'hard' drugs like cocaine.
The research found that 70% of the frequent users were male.
The study further indicates high levels of delinquency and anti-social behaviour by daily users which may have become part of their 'lifestyle activities'.
Of these teenagers, 25% reported being in trouble with the police on more than ten occasions, and nearly 20% had been summoned to court during the 12-month period prior to the survey.
