Over the last several decades the public opinion about cannabinoids and marijuana has transformed significantly. Many states have legalized the use of marijuana, THC, or cannabinoid products for medicinal purposes. The concept that some states (fewer) even allow the recreational use of pot would have been unimaginable 10 years ago.
Any compounds derived from the cannabis plant (the marijuana plant, essentially) are known as cannabinoids. In spite of their recent legalization (in some states), we’re still learning new things about cannabinoids. It’s a common idea that cannabinoid compounds have widespread healing attributes. But research suggests a strong link between the use of cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms but there are also contradictory studies.
Cannabinoids come in various forms
There are numerous varieties of cannabinoids that can be consumed nowadays. Whatever name you want to put on it, pot or weed isn’t the only form. Other forms can include topical spreads, edibles, pills, inhalable vapors, and more.
Any of these forms that contain a THC level over 0.3% are technically still federally illegal and the available forms will vary depending on the state. That’s why most people tend to be rather cautious about cannabinoids.
The long-term complications and side effects of cannabinoid use are not well understood and that’s the issue. Some new studies into how cannabinoids impact your hearing are prime examples.
Research connecting hearing to cannabinoids
Whatever you want to call it, cannabinoids have long been associated with helping a large number of medical conditions. Seizures, nausea, vertigo, and more seem to be improved with cannabinoids, according to anecdotally available evidence. So the researchers wondered if cannabinoids could help manage tinnitus, too.
But what they found was that tinnitus symptoms can actually be caused by the use of cannabinoids. According to the research, over 20% of study participants who used cannabinoid products reported hearing a ringing in their ears. And tinnitus was never formerly experienced by those participants. What’s more, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to describe experiencing tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours of consumption.
Further research suggested that marijuana use could worsen ear-ringing symptoms in people who already suffer from tinnitus. Put simply, there’s some rather convincing evidence that cannabinoids and tinnitus don’t really work well together.
It should be noted that smoking has also been linked with tinnitus and the research wasn’t clear on how participants were consuming cannabinoids.
Unknown causes of tinnitus
Just because this link has been uncovered doesn’t automatically mean the root causes are all that well known. It’s pretty clear that cannabinoids have an impact on the middle ear. But what’s producing that impact is far less evident.
Research, obviously, will continue. People will be in a better position to make wiser choices if we can make progress in comprehending the link between the numerous varieties of cannabinoids and tinnitus.
Beware the miracle cure
Recently, there has been lots of marketing hype around cannabinoids. That’s partly because attitudes associated with cannabinoids are swiftly changing (this also demonstrates a growing wish to get away from the use of opioids). But some negative effects can result from the use of cannabinoids, particularly regarding your hearing and this is reflected in this new research.
You’ll never be able to avoid all of the cannabinoid enthusiasts and evangelists in the world–the advertising for cannabinoids has been especially intense lately.
But this research undeniably indicates a powerful link between tinnitus and cannabinoids. So if you are dealing with tinnitus–or if you’re worried about tinnitus–it might be worth avoiding cannabinoids if you can, no matter how many adverts for CBD oil you might come across. It’s not exactly clear what the link between tinnitus and cannabinoids so exercise 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