What is the Controlled Substances Act?

The Controlled Substances Act is a federal law that regulates the handling of drugs and other substances that have the potential to be abused. This act was passed in 1970 and it outlines criteria for placing drugs into different categories, called “schedules”. Depending on the potential for abuse, the drugs can be categorized as Schedule I, II, III, IV, and V. In Kansas, Schedule I drugs are deemed to have the highest potential for abuse and are illegal to possess or use without a prescription. The Controlled Substances Act also sets out punishments for violating the law, ranging from fines to jail time. Despite this, Kansas continues to suffer from illegal drug use and drug crimes are a major problem. Therefore, Kansas has made its own drug laws, such as mandatory sentencing laws, that may be stricter than the federal Controlled Substances Act. Maintaining the standards set out in the Controlled Substances Act is important because it regulates the handling of drugs, enforces punishments for breaking the law, and serves as a benchmark for the state to create its own drug policies.

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What is the Controlled Substances Act?

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