DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumors

• Receiving a moderately emetogenic chemotherapy regimen for the first time

  • Patients may be chemotherapy naive or may have previously received a mildly emetogenic agent, such as a taxane, if no nausea/vomiting was experienced with that chemotherapy

  • Scheduled to receive cyclophosphamide ≤ 1,500 mg/m^2 IV and/or doxorubicin hydrochloride ≥ 40 mg/m^2 IV given as single doses on day 1 of chemotherapy regimen

    • Patients on combination regimens with these agents are eligible

  • No concurrent moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (Hesketh Level 3-4) after day 1 of the study period

    • Hesketh Level 1-2 chemotherapy on days 2-5 allowed
• No other physical causes for nausea or vomiting not related to chemotherapy administration (i.e., bowel obstruction)
• No recent history of unexplained nausea or vomiting or history of frequent nausea or vomiting
• No uncontrolled primary or metastatic CNS tumor (including those with uncontrolled seizures)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-2
• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3
• Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin ≤ 2.5 x ULN
• Transaminases ≤ 2.5 x ULN
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No active bacterial or fungal infection for which administration of a corticosteroid would be contraindicated
• No hypersensitivity to any of the study agents
• No sensitivity to sesame oil
• No previous poor tolerance of cannabinoids
• No habitual cannabinoid use or unwillingness to avoid the use of marijuana during the study period

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 30 days since prior treatment with any investigational agent
• No prior chemotherapy
• No prior dronabinol or nabilone
• No concurrent highly emetogenic chemotherapy (i.e.,cisplatin, streptozotocin, dacarbazine, carmustine, hexamethylmelamine, mechlorethamine, procarbazine) [Hesketh Level 5])
• No concurrent cranial, abdominal, or pelvic radiotherapy
• No concurrent corticosteroid treatment other than the study drug dose

• No other concurrent potential or known prophylactic antiemetic agents

  • Chronically used benzodiazepines may be continued as a single nightly dose for sleep
• No other concurrent investigational agents