Timeline of U.S. Ibogaine Prohibition
Feb 2014 v1.0
Citation: Greene D. "Timeline of U.S. Ibogaine Prohibition". Erowid.org. Jan 6 2014. Online edition: Erowid.org/chemicals/ibogaine/ibogaine_law1.shtml
- 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 (the "FDC Act"), Pub. L. No. 75-717, 52 Stat. 1040 (1938), is passed by Congress, revising the obsolete 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act and giving authority to the Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") to oversee the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics.
- 1965 The FDC Act is amended by the Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965, Pub. L. No. 89-74, 79 Stat. 226 (1965), which authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to designate certain "stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic" drugs as controlled, requiring licensing for sales and distribution.
- Apr. 6-7, 1967 The FDA Abuse of Depressant and Stimulant Drugs Advisory Committee (the "Committee") meets to consider the regulation of ibogaine and its salts.
- Apr. 14, 1967 The Committee issues a memo unanimously agreeing that ibogaine has a "potential for abuse" and should be regulated.
- June 15, 1967 Frederick M. Garfield, Acting Director, Bureau of Drug Abuse Control sends a memo to James L. Goddard, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, regarding proposed regulation of ibogaine, with a literature search and field report.
- July 5, 1967 The Commissioner of Food and Drugs issues a proposal to list ibogaine and its salts as depressant or stimulant drugs within the meaning of FDC Act § 201(v) because of its hallucinogenic effects (to be codified at 21 C.F.R. § 166.3(c)(3) (1968)). 32 Fed. Reg. 10,308 (July 13, 1967).
- Sept. 15, 1967 The Commissioner of Food and Drugs issues order listing ibogaine and its salts as depressant or stimulant drugs within the meaning of FDC Act § 201(v). 32 Fed. Reg. 13,407 (Sept. 23, 1967).
- Oct. 26, 1967 Confirmation of effective date of order listing ibogaine and its salts as depressant or stimulant drugs within the meaning of FDC Act § 201(v). 32 Fed. Reg. 15,390 (Nov. 3, 1967).
- Nov. 22, 1967 Effective date of order listing ibogaine and its salts as depressant or stimulant drugs within the meaning of FDC Act § 201(v).
- Oct. 24, 1968 Congress enacts the Staggers-Dodd Bill, Pub. L. No. 90-639, 82 Stat. 1361 (1968), amending the FDC Act to criminalize the possession of depressant or stimulant drugs.
- Oct. 27, 1970 Congress enacts the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, Pub. L. No. 91-513, 84 Stat. 1236 (1970). Ibogaine and its salts and isomers are listed in title II (the "Controlled Substances Act"), 84 Stat. 1242, Part B, § 202(c), Schedule I(c)(8) as having a high potential for abuse, no accredited medical use, and a lack of accepted safety.
- 2013: Ibogaine's Schedule I status is currently codified at 21 U.S.C. § 812(c), Schedule I(c)(8) (2012) and at 21 C.F.R. § 1308.11(d)(21) (2013).