Over the past several decades the public perception of cannabinoids and marijuana has transformed a lot. Many states now allow 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 hard to imagine a decade ago.
Cannabinoids are any compounds derived from 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 several states. We frequently view these particular compounds as having universal healing qualities. There have been contradictory studies about cannabinoids and tinnitus but research indicates there may also be negative effects like a direct connection between the use of cannabinoids and the development of tinnitus symptoms.
Cannabinoids come in various forms
Nowadays, cannabinoids can be used in many varieties. It’s not just pot or weed or whatever name you want to put on it. These days, THC and cannabinoids are available in pill form, as topical spreads, as inhaled mists, 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 by state. So it’s essential to be careful with the use of cannabinoids.
The long-term complications and side effects of cannabinoid use are not well understood and that’s the issue. A great example is some new research into how your hearing is impacted by cannabinoid use.
Research connecting hearing to cannabinoids
A myriad of conditions are believed to be successfully managed by cannabinoids. Seizures, vertigo, nausea, and more seem to be helped with cannabinoids, according to anecdotally available evidence. So the researchers wondered if cannabinoids could help treat tinnitus, too.
Turns out, cannabinoids may actually cause tinnitus. According to the research, over 20% of study participants who used cannabinoid products documented hearing a ringing in their ears. And that’s in people who had never experienced tinnitus before. What’s more, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to report experiencing tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours of consumption.
Further investigation suggested that marijuana use could worsen ear-ringing symptoms in people who already suffer from tinnitus. Put simply, there’s some fairly convincing evidence that cannabinoids and tinnitus don’t really mix all that well.
The research isn’t clear as to how the cannabinoids were used but it should be pointed out that smoking has also been connected to tinnitus symptoms.
Causes of tinnitus are unclear
The discovery of this link doesn’t reveal the root cause of the relationship. It’s fairly clear that cannabinoids have an impact on the middle ear. But it’s much less evident what’s causing that impact.
Research, undoubtedly, will continue. Cannabinoids today are available in so many varieties and forms that comprehending the root connection between these substances and tinnitus could help people make smarter choices.
Don’t fall for miracle cures
There has certainly been no shortage of marketing publicity around cannabinoids in recent years. That’s partly because mindsets associated with cannabinoids are quickly changing (and, to some extent, is also a reflection of a desire to get away from opioids). But this new research makes clear that cannabinoids can and do produce some negative effects, especially if you’re concerned about your hearing.
Lately, there’s been aggressive marketing about cannabinoids and you’ll never avoid all of the cannabinoid enthusiasts.
But this research undeniably suggests a powerful link between tinnitus and cannabinoids. So regardless of how many ads for CBD oil you see, you should steer clear of cannabinoids if you’re worried about tinnitus. The connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms is unclear at best, so it’s worth using 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
