There are five different schedules of controlled substances, numbered IV. The CSA describes the different schedules based on three factors: • Potential for
abuse: How likely is this drug to be abused? • Accepted medical use: Is this drug used as a treatment in the United States? • Safety and potential for
addiction: Is this drug safe? How likely is this drug to cause addiction? What kinds of addiction? The following table gives a summary of the different schedules. Placing a drug or other substance in a certain schedule or removing it from a certain schedule is primarily based on
21 USC §§ , , , , , , and . Every schedule otherwise requires finding and specifying the "potential for abuse" before a substance can be placed in that schedule. The specific classification of any given drug or other substance is usually a source of controversy, as is the purpose and effectiveness of the entire regulatory scheme. Some have argued that this is an important exemption, since
alcohol and tobacco are two of the most widely used drugs in the United States.
Schedule I Schedule I substances are described as those that have all of the following findings: No prescriptions may be written for Schedule I substances, and such substances are subject to
production quotas which the DEA imposes. Under the DEA's interpretation of the CSA, a drug does not necessarily have to have the same "high potential for abuse" as heroin, for example, to merit placement in Schedule I:
Drugs listed in this control schedule include: •
αMT (alpha-methyltryptamine), a
psychedelic,
stimulant, and
entactogen drug of the
tryptamine class that was originally developed as an antidepressant by workers at
Upjohn in the 1960s. •
BZP (benzylpiperazine), a synthetic stimulant once sold as a
designer drug. It has been shown to be associated with an increase in seizures if taken alone. Although the effects of BZP are not as potent as MDMA, it can produce neuroadaptations that can cause an increase in the potential for abuse of this drug. •
Cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant found in the shrub
Catha edulis (
khat). •
DMT (dimethyltryptamine), a naturally occurring
psychedelic drug that is widespread throughout the plant kingdom and endogenous to the human body. DMT is the main psychoactive constituent in the
psychedelic South American brew,
ayahuasca, for which the
UDV are granted exemption from DMT's schedule I status on the grounds of religious freedom. •
Etorphine, a semi-synthetic opioid possessing an analgesic potency approximately 1,000–3,000 times that of morphine. •
GHB (gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid), a general anesthetic and treatment for
narcolepsy-cataplexy and alcohol withdrawal with a limited safe dosage range and poor ability to control pain when used as an anesthetic (severely limiting its usefulness). It was placed in Schedule I in March 2000 after widespread recreational use led to increased
emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. A specific formulation of this drug is also listed in Schedule III for limited uses, under the trademark
Xyrem. •
Heroin is the brand name for
diacetylmorphine or
morphine diacetate, which is an inactive
prodrug that exerts its effects after being converted into the major active metabolite morphine, and the minor metabolite 6-MAM - which itself is also rapidly converted to morphine. Some European countries still use it as a potent pain reliever in terminal cancer patients, and as second option, after
morphine sulfate; it is about twice as potent, by weight, as morphine and, indeed, becomes morphine upon injection into the bloodstream. The two acetyl groups attached to the morphine make a prodrug which delivers morphine to the opioid receptors twice as fast as morphine can. •
Ibogaine, a naturally occurring psychoactive substance found in plants in the family Apocynaceae. Some countries in North America use ibogaine as an alternative medicine treatment for opioid drug addiction. Ibogaine is also used for medicinal and ritual purposes within
African spiritual traditions of the
Bwiti. •
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), a
semi-synthetic psychedelic drug famous for its involvement in the
counterculture of the 1960s. •
Marijuana and its
cannabinoids. Pure (–)-trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol is also listed in Schedule III for limited uses, under the trademark
Marinol. As a result of ballot initiatives,
many states have made recreational and medical use of marijuana legal, while other states have decriminalized possession of small amounts. Such measures operate only on state laws, and have no effect on federal law. Whether such users would actually be prosecuted under federal law is a separate question with no definitive answer. Given the widespread medicinal use of cannabis, the maintenance of its Schedule I classification has been controversial, with many calling for a reclassification or holistic federal decriminalization. As of April 30, 2024, cannabis was set to be reclassified by the
DEA as a Schedule III controlled substance. On April 23rd, 2026, FDA approved products containing cannabis and products regulated by a state medical marijuana license were moved to Schedule III. •
MDMA ("ecstasy" or "molly"), a
stimulant,
psychedelic, and
entactogenic drug which initially garnered attention in
psychedelic therapy as a treatment for
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The medical community originally agreed upon placing it as a Schedule III substance, but the government denied this suggestion, despite two court rulings by the DEA's administrative law judge that placing MDMA in Schedule I was illegal. It was temporarily unscheduled after the first administrative hearing from December 22, 1987 – July 1, 1988. •
Mescaline, a naturally occurring
psychedelic drug and the main psychoactive constituent of
peyote (
Lophophora williamsii),
San Pedro cactus (
Echinopsis pachanoi), and
Peruvian torch cactus (
Echinopsis peruviana). •
Methaqualone (Quaalude, Sopor, Mandrax), a sedative that was previously used for similar purposes as barbiturates, until it was rescheduled. •
Peyote (
Lophophora williamsii), a cactus growing in nature primarily in northeastern Mexico; one of the few plants specifically scheduled, with a narrow exception to its legal status for religious use in Native American churches. •
Psilocybin and
psilocin, naturally occurring
psychedelic drugs and the main psychoactive constituents of
psilocybin mushrooms. • Controlled substance analogues intended for human consumption, as defined by the
Federal Analogue Act. In addition to the named substance, usually all possible ethers, esters, salts and stereoisomers of these substances are also controlled and also 'analogues', which are chemically similar.
Schedule II Schedule II substances are those that have the following findings: Except when dispensed directly to an ultimate user by a practitioner other than a pharmacist, no controlled substance in Schedule II, which is a prescription drug as determined under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 USC 301
et seq.), may be dispensed without the written or electronically transmitted (21 CFR 1306.08) prescription of a practitioner, except that in emergency situations, as prescribed by the Secretary by regulation after consultation with the Attorney General, such drug may be dispensed upon oral prescription in accordance with section 503(b) of that Act (21 USC 353 (b)). With exceptions, an original prescription is always required even though faxing in a prescription in advance to a pharmacy by a prescriber is allowed. Prescriptions shall be retained in conformity with the requirements of section 827 of this title. No prescription for a controlled substance in Schedule II may be refilled. These drugs vary in potency: for example
fentanyl is about 80 times as potent as
morphine (
heroin is roughly two times as potent). More significantly, they vary in nature. Pharmacology and CSA scheduling have a weak relationship. Because refills of prescriptions for Schedule II substances are not allowed, it can be burdensome to both the practitioner and the patient if the substances are to be used on a long-term basis. To provide relief, in 2007, was amended (at ) to allow practitioners to write up to three prescriptions at once, to provide up to a 90-day supply, specifying on each the earliest date on which it may be filled. Drugs in this schedule include: •
Amphetamine drugs including
Adderall,
dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine),
lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse): treatment of
ADHD,
narcolepsy, severe
obesity (limited use, dextroamphetamine only),
binge eating disorder (lisdexamfetamine only). Originally placed in Schedule III, but moved to Schedule II in 1978 as part of the
Psychotropic Substances Act. •
Barbiturates (short-acting), such as
pentobarbital •
Cocaine: used as a
topical anesthetic or
local anesthetic and to stop severe
epistaxis •
Codeine (pure) and any drug for non-
parenteral administration containing the equivalent of more than 90 mg of codeine per dosage unit; •
Diphenoxylate (pure) •
Fentanyl and most other strong pure
opioid agonists, e.g.
levorphanol •
Hydrocodone in
any formulation since October 2014 (examples include Vicodin, Norco, Tussionex). Prior to October 2014, formulations containing hydrocodone and over-the-counter
analgesics such as
acetaminophen and
ibuprofen were Schedule III. •
Hydromorphone (semi-synthetic opioid; active ingredient in
Dilaudid,
Palladone) •
Methadone: treatment of
heroin addiction, extreme chronic pain •
Methamphetamine: treatment of
ADHD (rare), severe
obesity (limited use) under the brandname Desoxyn. •
Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta),
dexmethylphenidate (Focalin): treatment of
ADHD,
narcolepsy •
Morphine: a pain medication of the opiate family. •
Nabilone (Cesamet) – A synthetic
cannabinoid. An analogue to
dronabinol (Marinol) which is a Schedule III drug. •
Opium tincture (
laudanum): a potent
antidiarrheal •
Oxycodone (semi-synthetic opioid; active ingredient in
Percocet,
OxyContin, and
Percodan) •
Oxymorphone (semi-synthetic opioid; active ingredient in Opana) •
Nembutal (pentobarbital) –
barbiturate medication originally developed for
narcolepsy; primarily used today for
physician assisted suicide and
euthanasia of animals. •
Pethidine (
USAN: Meperidine; Demerol) •
Phencyclidine (PCP) – Formerly used as veterinary anesthetic under the trade name Sernylan and before then as an injectable anesthetic under the trade name Sernyl. •
Secobarbital (Seconal) •
Tapentadol (Nucynta) – A drug with mixed opioid agonist and norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor activity.
Schedule III Schedule III substances are those that have the following findings: Except when dispensed directly by a practitioner, other than a pharmacist, to an ultimate user, no controlled substance in Schedule III or IV, which is a prescription drug as determined under the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 USC 301
et seq.), may be dispensed without a written, electronically transmitted, or oral prescription in conformity with section 503(b) of that Act (21 USC 353 (b)). Such prescriptions may not be filled or refilled more than six months after the date thereof or be refilled more than five times after the date of the prescription unless renewed by the practitioner. • Intermediate-acting
barbiturates, such as
talbutal or
butalbital •
Buprenorphine (semi-synthetic opioid; active in
Suboxone,
Subutex) • FDA-approved products containing cannabis and products regulated by a state medical marijuana license •
Dihydrocodeine when compounded with other substances, to a certain dosage and concentration. • FDA-approved
sodium oxybate products (e.g. Xyrem, Xywav and Lumryz)—preparations of
GHB used to treat
narcolepsy. These products are in Schedule III but with a
restricted distribution system. All other forms or preparations of GHB are in Schedule I. •
Marinol, synthetically prepared
tetrahydrocannabinol (officially referred to by its
INN,
dronabinol) used to treat
nausea and
vomiting caused by
chemotherapy, as well as
appetite loss caused by
AIDS. •
Paregoric, an
antidiarrheal and
anti-tussive, which contains
opium combined with
camphor (which makes it less addiction-prone than
laudanum, which is in Schedule II). •
Phendimetrazine tartrate, a stimulant synthesized for use as an
anorexiant. •
Benzphetamine HCl (Didrex), a stimulant designed for use as an
anorexiant. • Fast-acting barbiturates such as
secobarbital (Seconal) and
pentobarbital (Nembutal), when combined with one or more additional active ingredient(s) not in Schedule II (e.g., Carbrital (no longer marketed), a combination of pentobarbital and
carbromal). •
Ergine (lysergic acid amide), listed as a sedative but also has psychedelic effects such as visual and auditory effects. An inefficient precursor to its
N,
N-diethyl analogue,
LSD, ergine occurs naturally in the seeds of the common garden flowers
Turbina corymbosa,
Ipomoea tricolor, and
Argyreia nervosa. •
Perampanel (Fycompa), an
anticonvulsant Schedule IV Placement on schedules; findings required Schedule IV substances are those that have the following findings: Control measures are similar to Schedule III. Prescriptions for Schedule IV drugs may be refilled up to five times within a six-month period. A prescription for controlled substances in Schedules III, IV, and V issued by a practitioner, may be communicated either orally, in writing, electronically transmitted or by facsimile to the pharmacist, and may be refilled if so authorized on the prescription or by call-in. •
Suvorexant and
lemborexant,
orexinergic sedatives
Schedule V Schedule V substances are those that have the following findings: No controlled substance in Schedule V which is a drug may be distributed or dispensed other than for a medical purpose.
Controlled by other federal laws for legal recreational use These psychoactive drugs are not controlled by the act, and are also allowed for sale intended for
recreational use at the federal level (others are allowed for sale as
dietary supplements, but not specifically regulated or intended for recreational use): •
Alcohol (ethanol), a sedative found in
alcoholic drinks. Per the
National Minimum Drinking Age Act (which is voluntarily abided by all 50 U.S. states), sale is limited to persons 21-years-old and above only. Sale regulated by the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and less commonly the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Alcohol was formerly illegal under the
Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution from 1919, until the
Twenty-first Amendment repealed it in 1933. •
Caffeine, a stimulant found in
coffee,
chocolate; and some
teas and
soft drinks. It is regulated by the FDA under the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and drinks cannot contain more than 200 parts per million (0.02%) of caffeine. There is no federal age restriction for caffeine-containing products. Also available medically in some pain medications (usually in combination with other drugs, like in
aspirin/acetaminophen/caffeine). •
Nicotine, a stimulant found in
tobacco (including
cigarettes and
cigars) and
electronic cigarettes. Also used medically in
nicotine replacement therapy. The minimum purchasing age of tobacco and e-cigarettes in the United States is 21-years-old, per the Synar amendment to the
Public Health Service Act. Sales are regulated by the ATF and FDA. ==Regulation of precursors==