Public opinion about marijuana and cannabinoids have changed incredibly over the last several decades. The majority of states now permit the use of marijuana, THC, or cannabinoid compounds for medicinal applications. Not as many states have legalized pot for recreational applications, but even that would have been unimaginable even just a decade ago.
A group of compounds derived from the cannabis plant (the marijuana plant, basically) are referred to as cannabinoids. In spite of their recent legalization in certain states, we’re still finding out new things about cannabinoids. While we now are beginning to accept the countless medical positive aspects of these compounds, it has been recognized for some time that tinnitus might be activated by cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids Come in Numerous Kinds
These days, cannabinoids can be used in many forms. It isn’t just weed (or ganja, or refer…..ok, there are lots of nicknames for marijuana so let’s move on). Oils, mists, pills and other variations of cannabinoids are currently obtainable.
Each state has it’s own laws regarding what forms of cannabinoids you can buy, and under federal law, many forms are still illegal if the THC content is over 0.3%. That’s why some people are quite cautious about cannabinoids.
The problem is that we don’t yet grasp much concerning some of the long term side effects or risks of cannabinoid use. One example is the new insight about how cannabinoids influence your hearing.
Cannabinoids And Your Hearing, Some New Studies
A wide variety of ailments and medical conditions are thought to be improved by cannabinoids, whatever you like to call it. Vertigo, nausea, seizures, and more seem to be improved with cannabinoids, according to available anecdotal information. So scientists decided to see if cannabinoids would be helpful with tinnitus, as well.
Turns out, cannabinoids could actually cause tinnitus. Based on the research, over 20% of study participants who employed cannabinoid products reported hearing a ringing in their ears. And that’s in individuals who had never experienced tinnitus before. What’s more, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to report having tinnitus symptoms after 24 hours.
And for those who already have tinnitus, marijuana use made it worse. So, it seems fairly certain that cannabinoids and tinnitus aren’t really compatible.
How Cannabinoids Make Tinnitus Worse
Your tinnitus can be intensified by cannabinoids in a couple of tangible ways. To start with, the incidents of tinnitus symptoms can get more consistent, you may experience the buzzing or ringing in your ears more frequently. Cannabinoids can also make those tinnitus episodes more overwhelming. More intense ringing that can be harder to dismiss can be the result.
Cannabinoids have also been shown to lead to the onset of tinnitus symptoms. Or, said another way: after you start using cannabinoids you may develop tinnitus symptoms even if you didn’t have them before.
Unknown Causes of Tinnitus
Just because this connection has been discovered doesn’t necessarily mean the root causes are very well understood. That cannabinoids can have an affect on the middle ear and on tinnitus is pretty clear. But what’s causing that impact is much less evident.
But we recognize that using marijuana, unlike other mood altering substances such as alcohol, will cause tinnitus.
Of course, we will keep doing research. People will be enabled to make a practical choice as to which of the many kinds of cannabinoid to go with as we gain greater insight into their connection to tinnitus.
Beware The Miracle Cure
There has certainly been no lack of marketing hype associated with cannabinoids lately. That’s partly because mindsets are changing about cannabinoids (and, it could also mean that people are making an attempt to move away from opioid use). But cannabinoids can and sometimes do produce undesirable results, based on this new research, and this is particularly true regarding hearing.
The marketing about cannabinoids has been very assertive and you can’t entirely escape all of the enthusiasts.
But this new research definitely suggests a solid link between tinnitus and cannabinoids. So if you suffer from tinnitus, or if you’re concerned about tinnitus it might be worth keeping away from cannabinoids if you can, no matter how many ads for CBD oil you may run into. The connection between tinnitus and cannabinoids symptoms has been quite firmly demonstrated by the research, so it’s worth exercising a little caution.