GOV'T EASES RESTRICTIONS ON MARINOL

WASHINGTON - The government on Friday eased restrictions on Marinol, a
byproduct of marijuana that doctors can prescribe to counter some symptoms
of AIDS and side effects of chemotherapy.

Barry McCaffrey, director of the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy, said the capsulized form of Marinol is the ``safe and
proper way'' to make a form of marijuana available to the public.

``This action will make Marinol, which is scientifically proven to be safe
and effective for medical use, more widely available,'' McCaffrey said.

The Drug Enforcement Administration reclassified Marinol from a ``Schedule
2'' drug to the less restricted ``Schedule 3'' category. This essentially
means that instead of being classified with drugs like morphine, Marinol is
now classified 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
legalized marijuana. Several states, including Oregon and California, have
approved the use of marijuana with a doctor's consent.

McCaffrey, who has remained staunchly opposed to those efforts, said
Friday's change was the result of ``pure science. There's no politics
involved.''

Marinol is the only agent, or cannabinoid, in marijuana that has undergone
research and been developed into a prescription drug. First brought onto
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 lessens record keeping requirements and eases distribution
restrictions on the drug.

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.

Marinol supporters have maintained that doctors are able to prescribe a
specific dosage of the drug, something they cannot determine with marijuana
use. The prescribed drug also does not pose the added concern of smoking
and potential lung damage, Marinol advocates have said.