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                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                      [LETTERHEAD OF FAEGRE & BENSON, LLP]









                                 June 13, 2001




Board of Directors
CIMA LABS INC.
10000 Valley View Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344


         In connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Registration Statement"), relating to
the offering of up to 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Shares"), of CIMA LABS INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
pursuant to the CIMA LABS INC. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, we have
examined such corporate records and other documents, including the Registration
Statement, and have reviewed such matters of law as we have deemed relevant
hereto, and, based upon such examination and review, it is our opinion that all
necessary corporate action on the part of the Company has been taken to
authorize the issuance and sale of the Shares and that, when issued and sold as
contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Shares will be legally and
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


         We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                                    Very truly yours,

                                                    /s/ Faegre & Benson LLP

                                                    FAEGRE & BENSON LLP