It has indications as an appetite stimulant, antiemetic, and sleep apnea reliever[4] and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe and effective for HIV/AIDS-induced anorexia and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

[16][17][18] Common side effects of dronabinol include euphoria, drowsiness, dizziness, decreased motor coordination, anxiety, paranoia, confusion, and a rapid heartbeat, among others.

[5][20] While dronabinol was initially approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 31, 1985,[21] it was not until May 13, 1986, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), issued a Final Rule and Statement of Policy authorizing the "rescheduling of synthetic dronabinol in sesame oil and encapsulated in soft gelatin capsules from Schedule I to Schedule II" (DEA 51 FR 17476-78).

[23] An article published in the April–June 1998 issue of the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs found that "Healthcare professionals have detected no indication of script-chasing or doctor-shopping among the patients for whom they have prescribed dronabinol".

[24][better source needed] In 1999, in the United States, Marinol was rescheduled from Schedule II to III of the Controlled Substances Act, reflecting a finding that THC had a potential for abuse less than that of cocaine and heroin.

[25][better source needed] In 2003, the World Health Organization Expert Committee on Drug Dependence recommended transferring THC to Schedule IV of the convention, citing its medical uses and low abuse potential.

[citation needed] Dronabinol is available as a prescription drug (under Marinol and Syndros [29]) in several countries including the United States, Germany, South Africa and Australia.

[39] Mark Kleiman, director of the Drug Policy Analysis Program at UCLA's School of Public Affairs said of Marinol, "it wasn't any fun and made the user feel bad, so it could be approved without any fear that it would penetrate the recreational market, and then used as a club with which to beat back the advocates of whole cannabis as a medicine.