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US Controlled Substances Act
DESCRIPTION
The U.S. Controlled Substances Act, which became law in 1971, is the primary drug control law in the United States that criminalizes the use, possession, manufacturing, and distribution of psychoactive drugs. Broken into five main "schedules" of controlled substances, with Schedule I lists the most tightly controlled drugs, such as LSD, Cannabis, and Heroin, with Schedule V listing drugs that are not considered particularly problematic. Most pharmaceutical drugs are not listed in the CSA but are regulated under the broader Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics Act, administered by the FDA.