Are There Any Tests That Can Differentiate Between Marinol And Marijuana?

Posted on Thu, 5 Feb 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 5 Feb 2015 Answered on

Thu, 5 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I am about to be drug screened at work. I take marinol on occasion for pain. I'm told there is a test that can differentiate between marinol and marijuana. Is that true?

Answered by Dr. Luchuo Engelbert Bain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Very possible to make the difference.

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the query,

Marinol is synthetic and is a derivative from Marijuana. Their respective chemical properties in terms of solubility and molecular weights are different.

The laboratory can very well distinguish between Marinol and Marijuana. It is possible. Being able to distinguish is again justified on a medico -legal bases since some patients do have medical indications to use Marinol, which of course, for instance for the Us is FDA certified for more than two decades today.

It is very possible to make the difference.

Thanks and kind regards,

Dr Bain

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar