Marijuana’s primary chemical, THC, has long been known as an effective treatment of nausea in cancer and AIDS patients. In the state of Washington, medical marijuana was legalized in 2012. Why was this necessary when there already exists an FDA approved alternative, dronabinol (Marinol)? The debate lies in whether Marinol is more effective than marijuana in treating nausea. Proponents of Marinol, led by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), state that it is a safer drug. Marinol uses a synthetic THC and has all the benefits of marijuana without the risks. Marinol is FDA approved and legal in the US whereas marijuana is not yet legal in every state. Contrarily, many medical professionals argue that marijuana is much more effective
