Marinol (pharmaceutical THC)--Reefer Madness side effects

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

Why is it that the official Physician's Desk Reference lists, among possible side-effects of using Marinol, increased irritability and aggressive behavior? I used to smoke pot in my college days and after, and saw a LOT of smoking by others, under many circumstances, but I don't remember ever observing that type of reaction in myself or others. The PDR warning sounds like the old reefer madness scare-propaganda.

Of course I realize that Marinol is pure THC, while natural cannabis undoubtedly probably has other active chemicals.

[Gilligan]

Sounds fishy to me, too. The manufacturer's website www.marinol.com (http://www.marinol.com) (Roxane) indicates as adverse effects - anxiety/nervousness, and paranoid reaction, with incidences of 3 to 10%; perhaps this gets interpreted as aggressive behavior. This is the only mention of irritability:
An abstinence syndrome has been reported after the abrupt discontinuation of dronabinol in volunteers receiving dosages of 210 mg/day for 12 to 16 consecutive days. Within 12 hours after discontinuation, these volunteers manifested symptoms such as irritability, insomnia, and restlessness.

[phouka]

That's because marijuana contains a whole lot more chemicals than just THC - some in proportionate amounts, some in reverse proportion.

Also, smoking marijuana lets the user control dosage in an immediate and fine-tuned fashion. A pill is a pill is a pill, and you're going to get the same dosage no matter what.