Congress Agrees to Add 26 Synthetic Drugs to Controlled Substances Act
DEA commended House and Senate negotiators for agreeing on legislation to control 26 synthetic drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, including many commonly found in products marketed as “K2” and “Spice.” The addition of these chemicals to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act will be included as part of S. 3187, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act. Schedule I substances are those with a high potential for abuse; have no medical use in treatment in the United States; and lack an accepted safety for use of the drug.
In addition to scheduling the 26 drugs, the new law would also double the length of time a substance may be temporarily placed in Schedule I (from 18 to 36 months). In addition to explicitly naming 26 substances, the legislation creates a new definition for “cannabamimetic agents,” creating a criterion by which similar chemical compounds can be controlled.