Over the last several decades the public perception of cannabinoids and marijuana has transformed considerably. Many states have legalized the use of marijuana, THC, or cannabinoid products for medicinal reasons. Far fewer states have legalized pot for recreational purposes, but even that would have been unimaginable even just ten or fifteen years ago.
Any compounds derived from the cannabis plant (the marijuana plant, essentially) are known as cannabinoids. And we’re still learning new things about cannabis despite the fact that it’s recently been legalized in a number of states. It’s a common idea that cannabinoid compounds have widespread healing attributes. There have been conflicting studies about cannabinoids and tinnitus but research indicates there might also be negative effects like a strong link between the use of cannabinoids and the development of tinnitus symptoms.
Various forms of cannabinoids
Today, cannabinoids can be utilized in a number of varieties. It isn’t just pot or weed or whatever name you want to put on it. Other forms can include topical spreads, edibles, inhaled vapors, pills, and others.
Any of these forms that contain a THC level above 0.3% are technically still federally illegal and the available forms will fluctuate by state. That’s why most individuals tend to be rather careful about cannabinoids.
The long-term complications and side effects of cannabinoid use are not well known and that’s the issue. A good example is some new research into how your hearing is impacted by cannabinoid use.
Studies About cannabinoids and hearing
Whatever you want to call it, cannabinoids have long been linked with helping a large number of medical disorders. Seizures, vertigo, nausea, and more seem to be improved with cannabinoids, according to anecdotally available evidence. So researchers decided to see if cannabinoids could treat tinnitus, too.
Turns out, cannabinoids might actually cause tinnitus. According to the research, over 20% of study participants who used cannabinoid products documented hearing a ringing in their ears. And that’s in individuals who had never experienced tinnitus before. And tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours of consumption were 20-times more likely with marijuana users.
And for individuals who already experience ringing in the ears, using marijuana may actually exacerbate the symptoms. So, it would seem, from this compelling evidence, that the link between cannabinoids and tinnitus isn’t a beneficial one.
It should be noted that smoking has also been linked with tinnitus and the research was unclear on how participants were using cannabinoids.
Causes of tinnitus are unclear
Just because this connection has been uncovered doesn’t necessarily mean the root causes are all that well comprehended. That cannabinoids can have an impact on the middle ear and on tinnitus is pretty obvious. But it’s a lot less clear what’s producing that impact.
Research, undoubtedly, will continue. Cannabinoids today come in so many varieties and types that comprehending the root link between these substances and tinnitus could help people make better choices.
Beware the miracle cure
In recent years, there has been a great deal of marketing hype around cannabinoids. To some extent, that’s because of changing mindsets associated with cannabinoids themselves (this also demonstrates a growing wish to get away from opioid use). But some negative effects can come from cannabinoid use, particularly with regards to your hearing and this is demonstrated in this new research.
Lately, there’s been aggressive advertising about cannabinoids and you’ll never avoid all of the cannabinoid enthusiasts.
But a powerful connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus is definitely indicated by this research. So if you are dealing with tinnitus–or if you’re worried about tinnitus–it may be worth avoiding cannabinoids if you can, no matter how many adverts for CBD oil you may come across. The connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms is uncertain at best, so it’s worth using some caution.
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References
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lio2.479
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5855477/
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/aaohnsf/82180