What You Need to Know About Schedule I Substances

When discussing controlled substances, you will often hear people describe drugs as Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III, etc. There are five schedules total, each categorized by whether the drug has medical use or the potential for addiction. Schedule I drugs are considered to be substances that have no approved medical use and have a high risk for addiction and abuse.

Types of Schedule I Substances

Schedule I drugs are defined as substances or chemicals that have no accepted medical use. These drugs are also considered to have a high potential for drug abuse and addiction.

Some of the drugs included on this list include:

  • LSD
  • Marijuana
  • Peyote
  • Heroin
  • Ecstasy

Scheduling drugs originally occurred under the Controlled Substances Act. Under the act, certain entities can request that a drug be added, deleted or changed to a different schedule. These entities include:

  • The Drug Enforcement Administration
  • The Department of Health and Human Services
  • Pharmacy Associations
  • Medical societies
  • Individual citizens
  • Drug manufacturers
  • Drug abuse public interest groups

When requesting any change to the scheduled substances, several different factors have to be considered. The individual or entity must present scientific evidence for the change amongst other evidence.

Penalties for Schedule I Substances

The federal government lists penalties for federal trafficking of controlled substances. The severity of the penalties depends heavily on the schedule of the drug, how much of the drug you carried, and whether or not the crime involved death or serious bodily injury. For example, if someone were to sell heroin and the person who purchased it died from an overdose, then the seller may be the one who faces more serious penalties for the buyer’s death.

Trafficking schedule I drugs, such as fentanyl analogue, heroin, or LSD can result in no less than 10 years in prison for the first offense. Second offenses are no less than 20 years, whereas three offenses would equal life in prison. On top of the prison sentence, those convicted of trafficking can also face fines of up to $20,000,000.

You never have to endure the stress of a drug charge on your own. If you face charges for a Schedule I drug, you must begin to build your case. The best way to build a defense is through the help of a lawyer, like a criminal defense lawyer from May Law, LLP. Try to set up a consultation as soon as possible so that you can get a head start on your case.