Schedule 1 drugs are substances that are illegal to possess or prescribe because they are deemed high-risk under federal law in the United States and have no therapeutic or medical value. But if you have an online medical card then you can consume, possess, and buy marijuana from the state-licensed dispensaries.
Drugs are categorized according to different schedules in different countries.
Schedule 1 drugs include heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), marijuana, also known as cannabis, is categorized as a Schedule 1 drug.
How the Federal Government Classifies Illegal Drugs
The DEA, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are the three agencies that handle drug scheduling.
A review can be started by the DEA, HHS, or a public petition. The DEA then requests that the FDA, acting on behalf of HHS, examine the scientific and medical data pertaining to a drug’s schedule.
A drug’s schedule is determined by the following factors:
- The scientific proof of the pharmacological effects of a medication.
- The scientific proof of a medication’s therapeutic benefits.
- The potential for drug abuse.
- The safety profile of a drug.
The government’s assessment of a drug’s medical value, not its level of harm, is the primary distinction between a Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 drug.
There is compelling evidence of the medicinal or therapeutic value of several Schedule 1 medications. While CBD derived from cannabis is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, the FDA-approved cannabis-extracted CBD in Epidiolex is classified as a Schedule 5 drug. Schedule 3 includes synthetic THC, also known as dronabinol or Marinol. There are numerous irregularities in the scheduling of medications.
The Importance of Drug Schedules Explained
There are several reasons why drug schedules are important, including:
- Due to limitations on how they can be obtained and distributed, it may have an impact on the quantity of research that can be done on a drug. For scientists who wish to study a Schedule 1 drug, the financial, potential social, and legal costs create a barrier to entry.
- It has an impact on how people view the medication and can let prejudice skew the results of what ought to be impartial scientific studies.
- Despite improvements to the application process for research on Schedule 1 drugs, some otherwise promising studies might not be able to secure federal funding. This effectively freezes or stalls potentially important research.
- It has an impact on the sentencing of individuals for drug-related offenses.
What Exactly Are Schedule 1 Drugs?
In the US, drugs classified as Schedule 1 (Schedule I) include:
- Cannabis (marijuana)
- Cannabis derivatives and synthetic forms (e.g., K2, Spice)
- Including magic mushrooms, psilocybin and psilocin
- Heroin (dacetylmorphine)
- Diethylamide of Lysergic Acid (LSD)
- GHB, or gamma-hydroxybutyric acid
- MDMA, or ecstasy, is 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine.
- Khat Methaqualone (quaaludes), cathinone, and cathine
- Mescaline, such as MDPV (bath salts) or peyote 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone
This list is not exhaustive.
Other Types of Drug Classifications Explained
Schedule 2 Drugs
Although they have some medical applications, Schedule 2 (Schedule II) drugs have a high potential for psychological and/or physical dependence. Schedule 2 drugs include, for example:
Hydrocodone combination products that contain less than 15 mg per dosage unit (Vicodin)
- Cocaine
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- Meperidine (Demerol)
- Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
- Dexedrine
- Oxycodone (OxyContin)
- Fentanyl
- Ritalin
- Adderall
Schedule 3 Drugs
The potential for abuse of Schedule 3 (Schedule III) drugs is low to moderate. Among them are:
- Products like Tylenol with codeine that have less than 90 mg of codeine per dosage unit
- Ketamine
- Testosterone
- Anabolic steroids
- Barbiturates (except secobarbital, now Schedule 2)
- Dronabinol (synthetic THC, trade name Marinol)
- Gabapentin
- Buprenorphine
- Meprobamate
- Mazindol
- Pentazocine
- Midazolam
- Pregabalin
- Phentermine
- Tramadol hydrochloride
- Temazepam
Schedule 4 Drugs
Substances, chemicals, or drugs classified as Schedule 4 (Schedule IV) have a low potential for abuse. Among the examples are:
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Dextropropoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet)
- Carisoprodol (Soma)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Zolpidem (Ambien)
- Pentazocine (Talwin)
- Tramadol (Ultram)
Even though these medications are thought to have a low potential for abuse, many of them are prescription benzodiazepines and opioid-based painkillers that many people find addictive and have other negative side effects like memory issues, slurred speech, drowsiness, brain fog, itching, and rashes.
Misuse of benzodiazepines and opioids are both regarded as public health issues; the latter is known as the “opioid epidemic.”
Schedule 5 Drugs
Drugs, substances, or chemicals listed in Schedule 5 (Schedule V) are thought to have therapeutic value and a low potential for abuse. Some narcotic preparations may still require a prescription, but occasionally they are offered as over-the-counter (OTC) versions. Among the drugs on Schedule V are:
Cough remedies that contain less than 200 mg of codeine per 100 ml (Robitussin AC)
- Diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil, Motofen)
- Attapulgite (Parepectolin)
- Pregabalin (Lyrica)
- Epidiolex (cannabidiol)
How Is Marijuana a Schedule 1 Drug but Still Legal in Some States?
States are now free to choose their own medical marijuana laws under successive administrations.
However, the federal government has maintained cannabis’ Schedule 1 listing even though more states have legalized it for medical purposes. The straightforward explanation is that the medicinal potential of cannabis in its natural, botanical form is not well supported by evidence. Given the increasing body of scientific evidence and the fact that natural CBD and synthetic THC are Schedule 5 and Schedule 3, respectively, many people find this to be nonsensical. Since 1972, people have petitioned the government to remove cannabis from Schedule 1 of the CSA, but they have not budged.
How Drugs Get Rescheduled or Removed from Federal Regulations
Drugs may be rescheduled or exempted from federal regulations in two primary ways:
- Congressional action in the form of customized CSA amendments or new marijuana-specific legislation.
- The DEA, FDA, and HHS review the drug, substance, or chemical’s therapeutic and medical potential before taking administrative action. The Attorney General will then consider the FDA’s suggestions and determine whether or not to regulate the substance.
It is always advisable to speak with medical marijuana doctors in Riverside if you are considering using marijuana for mdical reasons. They will assess whether marijuana is right for you and will also inform you of its safe usage and legal requirements.