Over the past several decades the public opinion about 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 marijuana for recreational reasons, but even that would have been unthinkable even just ten or fifteen years ago.
Any substances derived from the cannabis plant (the marijuana plant, essentially) are known as cannabinoids. And we’re still discovering new things about cannabis in spite of the fact that it’s recently been legalized in a number of states. It’s a common idea that cannabinoid compounds have widespread healing properties. There have been conflicting studies about cannabinoids and tinnitus but research suggests there may also be negative effects such as a strong link between cannabinoid use and the development of tinnitus symptoms.
Cannabinoids come in numerous forms
There are many forms of cannabinoids that can be consumed presently. It isn’t only pot or weed or whatever name you want to give it. Other forms can include topical spreads, edibles, pills, inhalable vapors, and others.
The forms of cannabinoids available will differ state by state, and many of those forms are still actually illegal under federal law if the THC content is over 0.3%. So it’s important to be cautious when using cannabinoids.
The long-term complications and side effects of cannabinoid use are not well understood and that’s the problem. Some new studies into how cannabinoids affect your hearing are perfect examples.
Research into cannabinoids and hearing
Whatever you want to call it, cannabinoids have long been associated with improving a large number of medical disorders. According to anecdotal evidence vertigo, nausea, and seizures are just a few of the afflictions that cannabinoids can help. So researchers made a decision to find out if cannabinoids could treat tinnitus, too.
Turns out, cannabinoids might actually cause tinnitus. Ringing in the ears was reported, according to the study, by 20% of the participants who used cannabinoids. 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 people who use marijuana.
Further research suggested that marijuana use could exacerbate ear-ringing symptoms in those who already suffer from tinnitus. In other words, there’s some pretty persuasive evidence that cannabinoids and tinnitus don’t really work well together.
It should be mentioned that smoking has also been associated with tinnitus and the research wasn’t clear on how participants were using cannabinoids.
Causes of tinnitus are not clear
The discovery of this connection doesn’t reveal the root cause of the relationship. That cannabinoids can have an influence on the middle ear and on tinnitus is fairly obvious. But it’s far less evident what’s producing that impact.
Research, obviously, will continue. Individuals will be in a better position to make better choices if we can make progress in understanding the link between the many varieties of cannabinoids and tinnitus.
Don’t fall for miracle cures
In recent years, there has been plenty of marketing publicity around cannabinoids. In part, that’s the result of changing attitudes surrounding cannabinoids themselves (and, to an extent, is also a reflection of a desire to turn away from opioids). But some negative effects can result from cannabinoid use, particularly with regards to your hearing and this is demonstrated in this new research.
You’ll never be capable of avoiding all of the cannabinoid aficionados and evangelists in the world–the advertising for cannabinoids has been especially aggressive lately.
But a strong connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus is definitely indicated by this research. So regardless of how many ads for CBD oil you see, you should steer clear of cannabinoids if you’re worried about tinnitus. It’s not exactly clear what the link between tinnitus and cannabinoids so exercise some caution.
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References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5855477/
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/aaohnsf/82180
