Scientists debating financial, ethical uncertainties of the medical use of marijuana.(Originated from Knight-Ridder Newspapers)

WASHINGTON _ The nation's top drug scientists appeared to be clearly skeptical Wednesday about using marijuana to cure nausea or relieve pain when other medicines are more effective and don't send patients into dreamlike trances.

Patients are clamoring for marijuana and voters, at least in California and Arizona, want to give it to them. Government officials are afraid it's a back door way to legalize the drug completely.

But does marijuana pass scientific muster? A report from a workshop at the National Institutes of Health, being held in Washington this week, won't be out for another month, but it was clear which way the scientists are leaning.

``Smoked marijuana will need to show some real advantage over alternatives, not just be effective, but be advantageous,'' said Robert Temple, associate director for medical policy at the Food and Drug Administration. ``The scientific task is extremely difficult. Showing superiority over existing therapy is very hard.''…