Schedule | Examples | Medical use? | Potential for abuse/dependence | Prescription |
I | Heroin, marijuana, LSD¶ | NoΔ | High | Not applicable. |
II | Narcotics:
| Yes | High | Require a written prescription by a licensed practitioner. Refilling of individual prescriptions is prohibited. |
Stimulants:
| ||||
Other:
| ||||
III | Narcotics:
| Yes | Less than with Schedule I and II drugs | A prescription for a drug in Schedules III through V must be issued by a licensed practitioner and may be communicated orally, in writing, or by facsimile to the pharmacist; may be refilled up to five times. |
Non-narcotics:
| ||||
IV | Narcotics:
| Yes | Less than with Schedule III drugs | |
Others:
| ||||
V | Preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotic and stimulant drugs used for antitussive, antidiarrheal, and analgesic purposes (eg, cough preparation with <200 mg codeine/100 mL [eg, Robitussin AC]) | Yes | Lower than with Schedule IV drugs |
* Drugs and other substances that are considered controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act are divided into five schedules based upon whether they have a currently accepted medical use in the United States and their relative abuse potential and likelihood of causing dependence when abused.
¶ Lysergic acid diethylamide.
Δ Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. The definition of Schedule I in the law indicates a lack of accepted medical use, and the designation as such in the table reflects this statutory language. Several states have made marijuana legal for medical and/or recreational use under state law. Marijuana's legal status is reviewed in greater detail in the UpToDate content on the epidemiology, comorbidity, health consequences, and medico-legal status of cannabis use and cannabis use disorder.Do you want to add Medilib to your home screen?