U.S. Eases Restrictions on a Medical Derivative of Marijuana
From The Washington Post
www.washingtonpost.com
Associated Press
July 7, 1999; Page A12

The government has eased restrictions on Marinol, a byproduct of marijuana that doctors can prescribe to counter some symptoms of AIDS and side effects of chemotherapy.
(Marijuananews note: Actually, Marinol is not a "byproduct of marijuana" but rather a synthetic analog of one of its ingredients.)

National Drug Control Policy Director Barry R. McCaffrey said the capsulized form of Marinol is the "safe and proper way" to make a form of marijuana available to the public for medical use.

"This action will make Marinol, which is scientifically proven to be safe and effective for medical use, more widely available," McCaffrey said Friday.
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The Drug Enforcement Administration reclassified Marinol from a "Schedule 2" drug to the less restrictive "Schedule 3" category. This means that instead of being classified with drugs like morphine, Marinol is now grouped with more widely used drugs like codeine.

Marijuana is classified as a "Schedule 1" drug and thus cannot be prescribed by doctors.

The change comes as dozens of states are grappling with the issue of legalizing marijuana. Several states, including Oregon and California, have approved the use of marijuana with a doctor’s consent.
(Marijuananews note: Amazingly, the Post makes no mention of the DC medical marijuana initiative, the results of which are still being suppressed.)
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McCaffrey, who has remained staunchly opposed to those efforts, said Friday’s change was the result of "pure science. There’s no politics involved."
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The DEA Proposes Making Marinol A Schedule III Drug!! "Like Codeine With Tylenol."
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Marinol is the only agent in marijuana that has undergone research and been developed into a prescription drug. First put on the market in 1985, Marinol has been used to treat anorexia and weight loss associated with AIDS, and nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.

With the change in classification, Marinol can now be prescribed by doctors with the possibility of five prescription refills in six months. The change also eases record-keeping requirements and distribution restrictions on the drug.

(Marijuananews note: Moreover, it is much easier to prescribe Schedule 3 drugs "off-label" – for ailments other than those for which it was approved by the FDA. This is a very widespread practice in medicine. It will now be more common with Marinol. Also, how will employee testing deal with the fact that THC is a legal prescription drug which is indistinguishable in "drug" tests from marijuana?)
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There No Way To Distinguish Between Marinol and Marijuana In Urine Tests.
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Supporters of medical marijuana, however, say patients who use it are able to get the benefits of dozens of other agents in marijuana that are not in Marinol.

(Marijuananews note: It is remarkable that the Post would print this.)
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Marinol supporters have touted the fact that doctors are able to prescribe a specific dosage of the drug, which they cannot set with marijuana use. The prescribed drug also does not pose the added concern of potential lung damage from smoking marijuana, Marinol advocates have said.