Laws

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 is the federal U.S. drug policy under which the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids and other chemicals is regulated. The CSA was signed into law by President Richard Nixon on October 27, 1970. The addition, deletion or change of schedule of a medicine or substance may be requested by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or from any other party via petition to the DEA.

The DEA implements the CSA and may prosecute violators of these laws at both the domestic and international level. Within the CSA there are five schedules (I-V) that are used to classify drugs based upon their abuse potential, medical applications, and safety.

Schedule 1

Drugs / Substances listed in DEA Schedule I include:

• Heroin (diacetylmorphine)
• LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide)
• Marijuana (Cannabis, Hemp, THC, Weed, Pot, Bud, Smoke)
• Mescaline (Peyote)
• GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid)
• Ecstasy (MDMA or 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
• Psilocybin (Mushrooms, Shrooms)
• Methaqualone (Quaalude)
• Khat (Cathinone)
• Bath Salts (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone or MDPV)

Schedule I drugs are those that have the following characteristic according to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency:

1. The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
2. The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical treatment use in the U.S.
3. There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or substance under medical supervision.

No prescriptions may be written for Schedule I substances, and they are not readily available for clinical use.

NOTE: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, marijuana) is still considered a Schedule 1 drug by the DEA, even though some U.S. states have legalized marijuana for personal, recreational use or for medical use.

Read More: Marijuana: Effects, Medical Uses & Legalization

Schedule 2

The drug has a high potential for abuse. The drug has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse of the drug may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

Examples of Schedule 2 pain medication (narcotics): 

Opium

Morphine

Codeine 

Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)

Methadone (Dolophine)

Meperidine (Demerol)

Oxycodone (OxyContin)

Fentanyl (Sublimaze, Duragesic)

Examples of Schedule 2 stimulants:

Amphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall)

Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)

Methylphenidate (Ritalin).

Other Schedule 2 substances:

Mobarbital

Glutethimide

Pentobarbital (Barbs)

The above list only includes the most commonly abused drugs considered by the DEA top be Schedule 2. For the DEA's entire (updated) listing by CSA Schedule, check out  their website, DEA Diversion, deadiversion.usadoj.gov, HERE  

Schedule 3

The drug has a potential for abuse less than the drugs in schedules 1 and 2. The drug has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse of the drug may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

Examples of Schedule 3 narcotics

Hydrocodone (Vicodin) containing less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per dosage unit

Codeine (Tylenol 3, Tylenol 4) containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit Buprenorphine (Suboxone)

Examples of Schedule 3N non-narcotics

Benzphetamine (Didrex)

Phendimetrazine

Ketamine

Anabolic Steroids (Depo-Testosterone)

The above list only includes the most commonly abused drugs considered by the DEA top be Schedule 3. For the DEA's entire (updated) listing by CSA Schedule, check out  their website, DEA Diversion, deadiversion.usadoj.gov, HERE  

Schedule 4

The drug has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs in schedule 3 The drug has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse of the drug may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs in schedule 3.

Examples of Schedule IV substances

Alprazolam (Xanax)

Carisoprodol (Soma)

Clonazepam (Klonopin)

Clorazepate (Tranxene)

Diazepam (Valium)

Lorazepam (Ativan)

Midazolam (Versed)

Temazepam (Restoril)

Triazolam (Halcion).

The above list only includes the most commonly abused drugs considered by the DEA top be Schedule 4. For the DEA's entire (updated) listing by CSA Schedule, check out  their website, DEA Diversion, deadiversion.usadoj.gov, HERE  

Schedule 5

The drug has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs in schedule 4. The drug has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse of the drug may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs in schedule 4.

Example of Schedule V substance:

Cough Syrup (Robitussin AC, Phenergan with Codeine) preparations containing not more than 200 milligrams of codeine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams 

The above is the most commonly abused drug considered by the DEA top be Schedule 5. For the DEA's entire (updated) listing by CSA Schedule, check out  their website, DEA Diversion, deadiversion.usadoj.gov, HERE  

CSA Schedule List DOWNLOAD

You can download a PDF version of the DEA's entire listing by CSA Schedule from their website, DEA Diversion, deadiversion.usadoj.gov, HERE

WARNING

Please do not rely on the above info for use during legal cases or proceedings, as it could be superseded by the DEA or other government institutions at any given time.

Individuals, organizations and corporations who order, handle, store, and distribute controlled substances must be registered with the DEA to perform these functions. They must maintain accurate inventories, records and security of the controlled substances.