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                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                          [ARNOLD & PORTER LETTERHEAD]


                                February 1, 2001


Board of Directors
Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
10240 Old Columbia Road
Columbia, Maryland  21046

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc. (the
"Company") in the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") relating to the Company's 2000 Stock Incentive Plan
(the "Plan") filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission
covering 500,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share (the "Common
Stock"), issuable pursuant to the Plan.

         In connection with rendering the opinions set forth in this letter, we
have examined such corporate records of the Company, including, the Plan, the
Company's First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, its First
Amended and Restated By-laws, and resolutions of the Board of Directors and
stockholders of the Company, as well as made such investigation of matters of
fact and law and examined such other documents as we deem necessary for
rendering the opinions hereinafter expressed.

         The opinions set forth herein are subject to the following
qualifications, which are in addition to any other qualifications contained
herein:

         A.       We have assumed without verification the genuineness of all
signatures on all documents, the authority of the parties (other than the
Company) executing such documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted
to us as originals, and the conformity to original documents of all documents
submitted to us as copies.

         B.       The opinions set forth herein are based on existing laws,
ordinances, rules, regulations, court and administrative decisions as they
presently have been interpreted and we can give no assurances that our opinions
would not be different after any change in any of the foregoing occurring after
the date hereof.

         C.       We have assumed without verification that, with respect to the
minutes of any meetings of the Board of Directors or any committees thereof of
the Company or of


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the stockholders of the Company that we have examined, due notice of the
meetings was given or duly waived, the minutes accurately and completely reflect
all actions taken at the meetings and a quorum was present and acting throughout
the meetings.

         D.       We have assumed without verification the accuracy and
completeness of all corporate records made available to us by the Company.

         E.       We express no opinion as to the effect or application of any
laws or regulations other than the general corporation law of the State of
Delaware and the federal laws of the United States. As to matters governed by
the laws specified in the foregoing sentence, we have relied exclusively on the
latest standard compilations of such statutes and laws as reproduced in commonly
accepted unofficial publications available to us.

         Based on the foregoing, upon the assumptions that there will be no
material changes in the documents we have examined and the matters investigated
referred to above, we are of the opinion that the 500,000 shares of Common Stock
subject to the Plan have been duly authorized by the Company and that (i) when
issued upon the exercise of options in accordance with the terms of the Plan and
for legal consideration of not less than $0.10 per share, will be validly issued
and will be fully paid and nonassessable and (ii) when issued pursuant to the
award of restricted stock in accordance with the terms of the Plan and for legal
consideration of not less than $0.10 per share, will be validly issued, and upon
the lapse of restrictions provided under such award, will be fully paid and
nonassessable.

         This letter does not address any matters other than those expressly
addressed herein. This letter is given for your sole benefit and use. No one
else is entitled to rely hereupon. This letter speaks only as of the date
hereof. We undertake no responsibility to update or supplement it after such
date.

         We hereby consent to your filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the
Registration Statement and to reference to our firm in Item 5 thereof. By giving
such consent we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.


                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     /s/ Arnold & Porter

                                                     ARNOLD & PORTER