What is the legal definition of a controlled substance?

A controlled substance is any drug or substance that the federal government has deemed to have a high potential for abuse and addiction. Under California’s Pharmaceutical Law, a controlled substance is considered to be any “drugs, substances, and certain chemicals” that are used in the manufacture of drugs. This includes drugs such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy. In addition, the state of California also has a list of prescription drugs that are considered to be controlled substances. All of these drugs are subject to a variety of restrictions, and the illegal sale, purchase, possession, or use of these drugs can be punishable by fines and imprisonment. Controlled substances are classified into five different schedules, which are determined by their addictive potential, potential for abuse, and accepted medical use, if any. In all five categories, the drugs in each schedule are highly regulated and are subject to tighter restrictions than those in other categories. For instance, Schedule I controlled substances have the highest potential for abuse and are not accepted for medical use. Examples of Schedule I drugs include LSD, heroin, and ecstasy. Conversely, Schedule V controlled substances have the lowest potential for abuse and are used for medical purposes. Drugs that fall into this category include cough medicines containing small amounts of codeine.

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What is the legal definition of a controlled substance?

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