For those unfamiliar with the federal drug schedule, I'll try to summarize from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_Substances_ActIt basically boils down to the medicinal benefits vs potential for addiction/abuse
Schedule I substances are those that have the following findings:
The drug or other substance has a
high potential for abuse.
The drug or other substance has
no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
There is a
lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.
Drugs in this schedule include:
DMT, GHB, LSD, Mescaline, Peyote, Psilocybin, Heroin, MDMA,
Marijuana and its cannabinoids
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Schedule II substances are those that have the following findings:
The drug or other substances have a
high potential for abuse The drug or other substances
have currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions
Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to
severe psychological or physical dependence.
Drugs in this schedule include:
Cocaine, Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Opium, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Morphine
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Schedule III substances are those that have the following findings:
The drug or other substance has a
potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II.
The drug or other substance has a currently
accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to
moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
Drugs in this schedule include:
Steroids, Ketamine, Intermediate-acting barbiturates, such as talbutal or butalbital, Fast-acting barbiturates such as secobarbital and pentobarbital
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"Placement on schedules; findings required
Schedule IV substances are those that have the following findings:
The drug or other substance has a
low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III The drug or other substance has a currently
accepted medical use in treatment in the United States
Abuse of the drug or other substance
may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IIIDrugs in this schedule include:
Benzodiazepines (xanax, valium), Long-acting barbiturates such as phenobarbital (truth serum)
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Schedule V substances are those that have the following findings:
The drug or other substance has a
low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV
The drug or other substance has a
currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States
Abuse of the drug or other substance
may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.Drugs in this schedule include:
Cough suppressants containing small amounts of codeine, Preparations containing small amounts of opium or diphenoxylate, Some anticonvulsants, Some centrally-acting antidiarrheals, such as diphenoxylate