Marinol is a THC-derived
medicine that has been available in America since 1985 for
prescription use. The FDA-approved pill is
taken orally and can
treat nausea and increase appetite
for cancer and AIDS patients. Users
explain that Marinol and
medical marijuana are nothing
alike.
Marinol contains only one cannabinoid from the
marijuana plant, THC.
(Source)
While many patients seek the pain relief qualities that THC provides,
cannabis contains numerous other cannabinoids
and terpenes
that work synergisticly in medical marijuana. The combination of
compounds found in cannabis is thought to offer an “Entourage
Effect” which makes pure
cannabis more beneficial.
Marinol, an oral medication,
requires up to ninety minutes
to generate an effect. Patients can easily
mis-dose themselves due to the time
lag. Many patients prefer smoking or vaping
marijuana for the immediate relief and dosage
control. Medical marijuana can be smoked,
providing relief in less than a minute.
This allows for patients to receive a dosage that fits the symptom
immediately without overdosing. (Source)
People who suffer from nausea
complain that keeping the Marinol pills down can be difficult. Once
ingested, the metabolism reduces
effectiveness, only allowing 5-10% of the
THC into the bloodstream. The effects can take up to 4 hours to peak,
resulting in delayed relief or improper dosage.
The cost for the drug Marinol is also
more expensive than medical marijuana. Marinol can cost
$200-800 depending on dosage. The increased cost can dissuade
patients from using this medication. A
survey found that 33% of patients did not
use Marinol due to its high cost. (Source)
Overall, studies show that patients
prefer medical marijuana over Marinol. A study done by the Tennessee
Board of Pharmacy showed a 23% higher success rate for treating
symptoms with medical marijuana than with THC capsules. Research
conducted in New Mexico found that 90% of
patients improved by smoking marijuana
while only 60% of oral THC medication showed improvement. In
a New York State study,
29% of patients who did not see
improvements with oral THC medication saw measured improvements from
smoking marijuana. (Source)
Source:
http://www.coloradonorml.org/information/marijuana/medical/marinol-vs-natural-plant
