Public opinion about marijuana and cannabinoids has changed significantly over the past several decades. Many states have legalized the use of marijuana, THC, or cannabinoid products for medicinal purposes. Far fewer states have legalized pot for recreational purposes, 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). And we’re still learning new things about cannabis despite the fact that it’s recently been legalized in numerous states. It’s a common notion that cannabinoid compounds have extensive healing properties. But research implies a strong connection between the use of cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms but there are also contradictory studies.
Various forms of cannabinoids
There are numerous varieties of cannabinoids that can be used nowadays. It’s not just pot or weed or whatever name you want to give it. Other forms can include topical spreads, edibles, pills, inhalable vapors, and others.
Any of these forms that have a THC level over 0.3% are technically still federally illegal and the available forms will differ depending on the state. So it’s essential to be careful 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 affected by cannabinoid use.
Studies About cannabinoids and hearing
Whatever you want to call it, cannabinoids have long been connected with helping a wide variety of medical disorders. Seizures, vertigo, nausea, 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 discovered was that tinnitus symptoms can actually be caused by the use of cannabinoids. 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 higher with people who use marijuana.
And for people who already experience ringing in the ears, using marijuana may actually worsen the symptoms. Put simply, there’s some rather persuasive evidence that cannabinoids and tinnitus don’t really mix all that well.
The research is unclear as to how the cannabinoids were consumed but it should be noted that smoking has also been connected to tinnitus symptoms.
Causes of tinnitus are unclear
Just because this link has been uncovered doesn’t necessarily mean the underlying causes are all that well understood. It’s fairly clear that cannabinoids have an impact on the middle ear. But it’s far less evident what’s producing that impact.
There’s bound to be additional research. Cannabinoids today are available in so many varieties and forms that understanding the fundamental connection between these substances and tinnitus might help people make better choices.
Don’t fall for miracle cures
There has certainly been no scarcity of marketing hype associated with cannabinoids in recent years. That’s in part because perceptions surrounding cannabinoids are quickly changing (and, to some extent, is also a reflection of a wish to turn away from opioids). But this new research clearly demonstrates that cannabinoids can and do create some negative effects, especially if you’re concerned about your hearing.
You’ll never be able to avoid all of the cannabinoid aficionados and evangelists in the world–the marketing for cannabinoids has been especially aggressive lately.
But this research undeniably suggests a powerful connection 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 advertisements for CBD oil you might come across. The link between cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms is uncertain at best, so it’s worth exercising 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