What is the federal law on drugs?
Short answer: Federal drug crimes are prosecuted under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Title 21 of the U.S. Code. The CSA classifies drugs by “schedules,” which affect how charges are filed and how harsh the penalties can be.
Drug schedules:
- Schedule I: Highest risk, no accepted medical use (e.g., heroin, LSD, MDMA).
- Schedule II: High abuse potential, some medical use (e.g., cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine).
- Schedule III: Moderate/low abuse potential (e.g., ketamine, anabolic steroids).
- Schedule IV: Lower abuse potential (e.g., Xanax, Valium).
- Schedule V: Lowest abuse potential (e.g., certain cough medicines with small amounts of codeine).
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What is the federal law on drugs?
Short answer: Federal drug crimes are prosecuted under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Title 21 of the U.S. Code. The CSA classifies drugs by “schedules,” which affect how charges are filed and how harsh the penalties can be.
Controlled Substances Act: Drug Schedules (I–V)
Quick view: The CSA groups drugs into five schedules. Higher schedules and larger quantities usually mean harsher federal penalties.
| Schedule | Examples | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| I | Heroin, LSD, MDMA | Highest abuse potential; no accepted medical use. |
| II | Cocaine, Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Oxycodone | High abuse potential; some accepted medical use with severe restrictions. |
| III | Ketamine, Anabolic Steroids, Buprenorphine | Moderate to low physical dependence; accepted medical use. |
| IV | Xanax, Valium, Klonopin | Lower abuse potential than Schedule III; accepted medical use. |
| V | Cough medicines with low-dose codeine | Lowest abuse potential; accepted medical use. |
Why it matters: The schedule and quantity influence both the charge and the potential sentence. Larger amounts and higher schedules generally trigger mandatory minimums and higher guideline ranges. If you’re asking, “What is the federal law on drugs?”—this is it: the CSA controls the substances, the schedules shape the penalties, and Title 21 provides the charging statutes.
