Pubdate: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Copyright: 2002 Chicago Tribune Company Contact: http://www.mapinc.org/media/82 Author: Jeff Meyers POT'S BENEFITS Oak View, Calif. -- It shouldn't surprise anybody that a marijuana derivative fails to live up to the real thing's reputation for producing the munchies ("Marijuana derivative fails appetite test," Health & Family, Feb. 17). Dronabinol contains only one of marijuana's many chemicals. Many studies show that AIDS patients prefer marijuana over synthetics, both as a pain reliever and appetite stimulant. The only thing the Mayo Clinic study really proves is the lunacy and hypocrisy of the federal government's ideologically inspired marijuana prohibition. If marijuana is not medicine, how can dronabinol be medicine? - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom