Schedule I
The most restrictive classification under the US Controlled Substances Act (CSA), applied to substances deemed to have high abuse potential, no accepted medical use, and lack of accepted safety under medical supervision.
In Depth
Cannabis (marijuana) remains Schedule I under federal US law as of 2024, despite state-level legalization in 38+ states for medical use and 24+ states for adult use. This classification creates significant barriers to research: investigators must obtain DEA Schedule I researcher licenses, source cannabis from the NIDA Drug Supply Program (historically limited in variety and potency), and navigate complex regulatory requirements. The DEA proposed rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III in 2024, which would substantially ease research restrictions.
Related Terms
Further Reading
More in Regulatory
IND (Investigational New Drug)
An application submitted to the FDA allowing a pharmaceutical company or researcher to begin clinical trials of an unapproved drug in humans.
NCT Number
A unique identifier assigned by ClinicalTrials.gov to every registered clinical study. Format: NCT followed by 8 digits (e.g., NCT04849910).
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)
A system of regulations ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. Required for pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid products.