21 U.S.C. § 812 — Schedules of controlled substances

(a) Establishment. The law creates five schedules of controlled substances: I, II, III, IV, and V. At first, they consist of the substances listed below. During the two years beginning one year after October 27, 1970, the schedules must be updated and republished twice a year. After that, they must be updated and republished every year.

(b) Placement on schedules; required findings. Except when placement is required by a treaty, convention, or protocol binding the United States on October 27, 1970, and except for an immediate precursor^*, a drug^* or other substance may be placed on a schedule only if the required findings for that schedule are made.

(1) Schedule I requires all three findings: (A) the drug or substance has a high potential for abuse; (B) it has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States; and (C) there is no accepted safety for its use under medical supervision.

(2) Schedule II requires all three findings: (A) the drug or substance has a high potential for abuse; (B) it has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions; and (C) abuse may cause severe psychological or physical dependence.

(3) Schedule III requires all three findings: (A) the drug or substance has less potential for abuse than substances in Schedules I and II; (B) it has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States; and (C) abuse may cause moderate or low physical dependence, or high psychological dependence.

(4) Schedule IV requires all three findings: (A) the drug or substance has a low potential for abuse compared with substances in Schedule III; (B) it has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States; and (C) abuse may cause limited physical dependence or psychological dependence compared with substances in Schedule III.

(5) Schedule V requires all three findings: (A) the drug or substance has a low potential for abuse compared with substances in Schedule IV; (B) it has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States; and (C) abuse may cause limited physical dependence or psychological dependence compared with substances in Schedule IV.

(c) Initial schedules. Unless changed under section 811, the schedules consist of the following substances, regardless of whether they are identified by an official, common, usual, chemical, or brand name. Unless a provision says otherwise, each listed item includes the stated salts, isomers, esters, ethers, derivatives, or preparations.

Schedule I—(a) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following opiates, including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers whenever those forms are possible within the specific chemical designation: Acetylmethadol; Allylprodine; Alphacetylmathadol; Alphameprodine; Alphamethadol; Benzethidine; Betacetylmethadol; Betameprodine; Betamethadol; Betaprodine; Clonitazene; Dextromoramide; Dextrorphan; Diampromide; Diethylthiambutene; Dimenoxadol; Dimepheptanol; Dimethylthiambutene; Dioxaphetyl butyrate; Dipipanone; Ethylmethylthiambutene; Etonitazene; Etoxeridine; Furethidine; Hydroxypethidine; Ketobemidone; Levomoramide; Levophenacylmorphan; Morpheridine; Noracymethadol; Norlevorphanol; Normethadone; Norpipanone; Phenadoxone; Phenampromide; Phenomorphan; Phenoperidine; Piritramide; Proheptazine; Properidine; Racemoramide; and Trimeperidine.

Schedule I—(b) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following opium derivatives, including their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever those forms are possible within the specific chemical designation: Acetorphine; Acetyldihydrocodeine; Benzylmorphine; Codeine methylbromide; Codeine-N-Oxide; Cyprenorphine; Desomorphine; Dihydromorphine; Etorphine; Heroin; Hydromorphinol; Methyldesorphine; Methylhydromorphine; Morphine methylbromide; Morphine methylsulfonate; Morphine-N-Oxide; Myrophine; Nicocodeine; Nicomorphine; Normorphine; Pholcodine; and Thebacon.

Schedule I—(c) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation containing any amount of any of the following hallucinogenic substances, or containing any of their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever those forms are possible within the specific chemical designation, is included: 3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine; 5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine; 3,4,5-trimethoxy amphetamine; Bufotenine; Diethyltryptamine; Dimethyltryptamine; 4-methyl-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine; Ibogaine; Lysergic acid diethylamide; Marihuana^*; Mescaline; Peyote; N-ethyl-3-piperidyl benzilate; N-methyl-3-piperidyl benzilate; Psilocybin; Psilocyn; tetrahydrocannabinols, except tetrahydrocannabinols in hemp as defined in section 1639o of title 7; 4-methylmethcathinone (Mephedrone); 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV); 2-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethylphenyl)ethanamine (2C-E); 2-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)ethanamine (2C-D); 2-(4-Chloro-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine (2C-C); 2-(4-Iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine (2C-I); 2-[4-(Ethylthio)-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl]ethanamine (2C-T-2); 2-[4-(Isopropylthio)-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl]ethanamine (2C-T-4); 2-(2,5-Dimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine (2C-H); 2-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-nitro-phenyl)ethanamine (2C-N); and 2-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylphenyl)ethanamine (2C-P).

Schedule I—(d) Cannabimimetic agents. (1) Unless specifically exempted or listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation containing any amount of a cannabimimetic agent^*, or containing its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever those forms are possible within the specific chemical designation, is included. (2)(A) “Cannabimimetic agents” means substances that are CB1 receptor agonists, shown by binding studies and functional assays, within these structural classes: (i) 2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)phenol with an alkyl or alkenyl substitution at position 5 of the phenolic ring, whether or not the cyclohexyl ring has other substitutions; (ii) 3-(1-naphthoyl)indole or 3-(1-naphthylmethane)indole substituted at the indole nitrogen, whether or not the indole or naphthoyl/naphthyl ring has other substitutions; (iii) 3-(1-naphthoyl)pyrrole substituted at the pyrrole nitrogen, whether or not either ring has other substitutions; (iv) 1-(1-naphthylmethylene)indene substituted at position 3 of the indene ring, whether or not either ring has other substitutions; and (v) 3-phenylacetylindole or 3-benzoylindole substituted at the indole nitrogen, whether or not the indole or phenyl ring has other substitutions. (B) The term includes: CP-47,497; cannabicyclohexanol or CP-47,497 C8-homolog; JWH-018 and AM678; JWH-073; JWH-019; JWH-200; JWH-250; JWH-081; JWH-122; JWH-398; AM2201; AM694; SR-19 and RCS-4; SR-18 and RCS-8; and JWH-203, with the chemical descriptions given in the supplied text.

Schedule I—(e) Fentanyl-related substances. (1) Unless specifically exempted or listed elsewhere, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation containing any amount of a fentanyl-related substance, or containing its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever those forms are possible within the specific chemical designation, is included. (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), “fentanyl-related substance” means a substance structurally related to fentanyl through one or more of these changes: (A) replacing the phenyl part of the phenethyl group with any monocycle, with or without further substitution; (B) substituting the phenethyl group with an alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxyl, hydroxyl, halo, haloalkyl, amino, or nitro group; (C) substituting the piperidine ring with an alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxyl, ester, ether, hydroxyl, halo, haloalkyl, amino, or nitro group; (D) replacing the aniline ring with any aromatic monocycle, with or without further substitution; or (E) replacing the N-propionyl group with another acyl group. (3) A substance meeting that definition is not treated as a fentanyl-related substance under this schedule if the Attorney General controls it under section 811 or it is expressly listed in another schedule. (4)(A) The Attorney General may publish a list of substances meeting the definition in the Federal Register. (B) Leaving a substance off that list does not change its control^* status if it meets the definition.

Schedule II—(a) Unless specifically excepted or listed elsewhere, the following are included whether made by extraction from plants, chemical synthesis, or both: (1) opium and opiate^*, and every salt, compound, derivative, or preparation of either; (2) chemically equivalent or identical salts, compounds, derivatives, or preparations, but not isoquinoline alkaloids of opium; (3) the opium poppy^* and poppy straw^*; and (4) coca leaves, except leaves and extracts from which cocaine, ecgonine, and their derivatives or salts have been removed; cocaine and its salts, optical and geometric isomers, and salts of isomers; ecgonine and its derivatives, salts, isomers, and salts of isomers; and any compound, mixture, or preparation containing any of those substances. (b) The listed opiates are Alphaprodine; Anileridine; Bezitramide; Dihydrocodeine; Diphenoxylate; Fentanyl; Isomethadone; Levomethorphan; Levorphanol; Metazocine; Methadone; Methadone-Intermediate (4-cyano-2-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl butane); Moramide-Intermediate (2-methyl-3-morpholino-1,1-diphenylpropane-carboxylic acid); Pethidine; Pethidine-Intermediate-A; Pethidine-Intermediate-B; Pethidine-Intermediate-C; Phenazocine; Piminodine; Racemethorphan; and Racemorphan, including the possible specified isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers. (c) Unless specifically excepted or listed elsewhere, any injectable liquid containing any amount of methamphetamine, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, is included.

Schedule III—(a) Unless specifically excepted or listed elsewhere, materials containing any amount of these central-nervous-system stimulants are included: amphetamine and its salts and optical isomers; phenmetrazine and its salts; methamphetamine and its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, except in an injectable liquid; and methylphenidate. (b) Materials containing any amount of these central-nervous-system depressants are included: a derivative of barbituric acid or its salt; Chorhexadol; Glutethimide; Lysergic acid; Lysergic acid amide; Methyprylon; Phencyclidine; Sulfondiethylmethane; Sulfonethylmethane; and Sulfonmethane. (c) Nalorphine is included. (d) Materials containing these limited amounts of narcotic drugs or their salts are included: codeine up to 1.8 grams per 100 milliliters or 90 milligrams per dosage unit, with an equal or greater amount of an isoquinoline alkaloid of opium, or with active non-narcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts; dihydrocodeinone up to 300 milligrams per 100 milliliters or 15 milligrams per dosage unit, with a fourfold-or-greater amount of an isoquinoline alkaloid of opium, or with active non-narcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts; dihydrocodeine up to 1.8 grams per 100 milliliters or 90 milligrams per dosage unit, with active non-narcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts; ethylmorphine up to 300 milligrams per 100 milliliters or 15 milligrams per dosage unit, with active non-narcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts; opium up to 500 milligrams per 100 milliliters or 100 grams, or 25 milligrams per dosage unit, with active non-narcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts; and morphine up to 50 milligrams per 100 milliliters or 100 grams, with active non-narcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts. (e) Anabolic steroids, plus Barbital; Chloral betaine; Chloral hydrate; Ethchlorvynol; Ethinamate; Methohexital; Meprobamate; Methylphenobarbital; Paraldehyde; Petrichloral; and Phenobarbital.

Schedule IV. The supplied text gives this schedule heading but lists no substances after it.

Schedule V. A compound, mixture, or preparation containing these limited amounts of narcotic drugs must also contain one or more non-narcotic active medicinal ingredients in enough proportion to give it valuable medicinal qualities beyond those of the narcotic alone: codeine up to 200 milligrams per 100 milliliters or 100 grams; dihydrocodeine up to 100 milligrams per 100 milliliters or 100 grams; ethylmorphine up to 100 milligrams per 100 milliliters or 100 grams; diphenoxylate up to 2.5 milligrams and atropine sulfate at least 25 micrograms per dosage unit; or opium up to 100 milligrams per 100 milliliters or 100 grams.