ally as an anti-nauseate and an appetite stimulant, but doctors can and do prescribe it for other conditions such as depression and muscle spasticity. Even though THC delivered orally by Marinol is available, many patients find that smoked marijuana is more effective. For people suffering from nausea and vomiting, who are unable to swallow and hold down a pill, smoking marijuana has the additional advantage of delivering THC. “For nauseated patients, smoking marijuana has the additional advantage of delivering THC quickly, providing relief in a few minutes, compared to an hour or more when THC is swallowed. ”Smoking marijuana not only delivers THC to the bloodstream more quickly than swallowing Marinol, but smoking delivers most of the THC inhaled. When Marinol is swallowed, it must move from the stomach to the small intestine before being absorbed into the bloodstream. After absorption, orally consumed THC, orally consumed THC passes immediately through the liver, where a significant proportion is biotransformed into other chemicals. “Due to metabolism by the liver, 90% or more of the swallowed THC never actually even gets a chance to perform its effects on the body. ”When THC is swallowed its effects vary considerably, both form one person to another and in the same person from one episode of use to another. The major problem with Marinol is that it effects are not consistent in each person who takes it. In other words, smoking marijuana is a more flexible route of administration than swallowing. “Smoking allows patients to adjust their dose to coincide with the rise and fall of symptoms. ” For people suffering from nausea and vomiting form AIDS or cancer chemotherapy smoked marijuana provides rapid relief with lower overall doses of THC. Due to the controversy and inconstant effectiveness between patients doctors are very reluctant to prescribe it. Smoking is a highly unusual way to administer a d...
