Marinol is the brand-name for dronabinol, a synthetic version of tetrahydracannibinol (THC) packaged as a capsule for oral ingestion. THC is one of the many active compounds found in marijuana. The FDA authorized Marinol to be marketed for the relief of nausea and vomiting. However, many physicians also prescribe Marinol to stimulate appetite and alleviate pain. In 1999, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Food and Drug Administration rescheduled Marinol from a Schedule II to a Schedule III substance, meaning it can be dispensed by a pharmacist only with a prescription from a licensed physician (which the physician can phone in to the pharmacy), and the prescription can be refilled (with the physician's authorizations) for up to five months (state laws may differ).

Many patients, however, do not tolerate Marinol well. For example, some patients have difficulty swallowing the Marinol pill (perhaps because of acute nausea). Other patients find that Marinol is too slow acting. Still other patients are overly-debilitated by potential side effects of ingesting pure THC, including impaired cognitive functioning and motor skills. For some patients, Marinol has no therapeutic effect. Some patients who have tried Marinol unsuccessfully have later found - often upon a recommendation of a physician -- that marijuana provides sought after relief.

Exerpt from the APHA amicus brief

Excerpt from Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base
Joy, Janet E.; Stanley J. Watson, Jr.; John A. Benson, Jr., Eds. Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. Washington, DC: Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Health, Institute of Medicine. 1999. 259 p.

Statement of Americans for Medical Rights on Marinol Rescheduling