Public opinion about marijuana and cannabinoids has changed remarkably over the last several decades. Cannabinoids, marijuana, and THC products are now allowed for medical usage in many states. The idea that some states (fewer) even allow the recreational use of pot would have been unimaginable a decade ago.
Cannabinoids are any substances produced by the cannabis plant (essentially, the marijuana plant). And we’re still learning new things about cannabis despite the fact that it’s recently been legalized in numerous states. We often view these specific compounds as having universal healing qualities. But research suggests a strong connection between the use of cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms but there are also contradictory studies.
Various forms of cannabinoids
Today, cannabinoids can be consumed in many forms. Whatever name you want to give it, pot or weed is not the only form. These days, THC and cannabinoids are available in pill form, as topical spreads, as inhaled mists, and more.
The forms of cannabinoids available will differ state by state, and most of those forms are still actually illegal under federal law if the THC content is over 0.3%. So it’s essential to be cautious with the use of cannabinoids.
The problem is that we don’t yet know much about some of the long-term side effects or complications of cannabinoid use. A good example is some new research into how your hearing is impacted by cannabinoid use.
Research into cannabinoids and hearing
Whatever you want to call it, cannabinoids have long been connected with improving a wide range of medical conditions. Seizures, nausea, vertigo, 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 may actually trigger 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. Furthermore, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to describe experiencing tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours of consumption.
And for people who already experience ringing in the ears, using marijuana could actually exacerbate the symptoms. Put simply, there’s some pretty compelling 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 was unclear on how participants were consuming cannabinoids.
Causes of tinnitus are unclear
The discovery of this link doesn’t expose the root cause of the relationship. It’s fairly clear that cannabinoids have an influence on the middle ear. But what’s causing that impact is far less clear.
Research, obviously, will carry on. Cannabinoids today come in so many selections and forms that comprehending the root link between these substances and tinnitus could help individuals make smarter choices.
Don’t fall for miracle cures
There has undeniably been no shortage of marketing hype associated with cannabinoids recently. In part, that’s because of changing perceptions associated with cannabinoids themselves (and, to some extent, is also an indication of a desire to get away from opioids). But this new research clearly demonstrates that cannabinoids can and do cause some negative effects, particularly if you’re concerned about your hearing.
Lately, there’s been aggressive advertising about cannabinoids and you’ll never escape all of the cannabinoid devotees.
But a strong connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus is certainly indicated by this research. So no matter how many ads for CBD oil you see, you should steer clear of cannabinoids if you’re concerned about tinnitus. It’s not exactly clear what the link between tinnitus and cannabinoids so exercise 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