Over the last several decades the public perception of cannabinoids and marijuana has changed significantly. Cannabinoids, marijuana, and THC products are now allowed for medical usage in many states. Substantially fewer states have legalized pot for recreational reasons, but even that would have been unthinkable even just ten or fifteen years ago.
Cannabinoids are any compounds derived from the cannabis plant (basically, the marijuana plant). Despite their recent legalization (in some states), we’re still discovering new things about cannabinoids. It’s a common notion that cannabinoid compounds have widespread healing attributes. There have been conflicting studies about cannabinoids and tinnitus but research suggests there might also be negative effects such as a direct connection between cannabinoid use and the development of tinnitus symptoms.
Cannabinoids come in many forms
There are many varieties of cannabinoids that can be utilized nowadays. It isn’t only pot or weed or whatever name you want to put on it. Other forms can include topical spreads, edibles, pills, inhalable vapors, and more.
The forms of cannabinoids available will differ state by state, and many of those forms are still technically federally illegal if the amount of THC is above 0.3%. So it’s important to be careful when using cannabinoids.
The issue is that we don’t yet know very much about some of the long-term side effects or complications of cannabinoid use. Some new studies into how cannabinoids impact your hearing are prime examples.
Studies About cannabinoids and hearing
A wide array of disorders are believed to be successfully managed by cannabinoids. According to anecdotal evidence vertigo, nausea, and seizures are just a few of the afflictions that cannabinoids can benefit. So researchers decided to find out if cannabinoids could treat tinnitus, too.
But what they found was that tinnitus symptoms can actually be triggered by the use of cannabinoids. Ringing in the ears was documented, 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 investigation suggested that marijuana use may exacerbate ear-ringing symptoms in those who already suffer from tinnitus. So, it would seem, from this persuasive evidence, that the relationship between tinnitus and cannabinoids isn’t a beneficial one.
It should be mentioned that smoking has also been associated with tinnitus and the research was unclear on how participants were consuming cannabinoids.
Unclear causes of tinnitus
Just because this connection has been found doesn’t necessarily mean the root causes are all that well known. It’s fairly clear that cannabinoids have an impact on the middle ear. But what’s producing that impact is a lot less evident.
Research, obviously, will continue. People will be in a better position to make better choices if we can make progress in comprehending the connection between the many varieties of cannabinoids and tinnitus.
Don’t fall for miracle cures
There has undeniably been no scarcity of marketing publicity surrounding cannabinoids in recent years. In part, that’s the result of changing perceptions surrounding cannabinoids themselves (this also reflects a growing wish to get away from the use of opioids). But this new research makes clear that cannabinoids can and do create some negative effects, especially if you’re uneasy about your hearing.
You’ll never be able to avoid all of the cannabinoid enthusiasts and evangelists in the world–the marketing for cannabinoids has been particularly intense lately.
But a strong connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus is certainly indicated by this research. So regardless of how many ads for CBD oil you see, you should avoid cannabinoids if you’re worried about tinnitus. It’s not completely clear what the link between tinnitus and cannabinoids so use some caution.
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