Cannabis Law Glossary
Controlled Substances Act
Definition
The federal law enacted in 1970 that established the scheduling framework for controlled substances and classified marijuana as Schedule I — the foundation of federal cannabis prohibition.
What Is the Controlled Substances Act?
The Controlled Substances Act (CSA), enacted as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, is the federal statute that regulates the manufacture, importation, possession, use, and distribution of certain substances. The CSA established a classification system — Schedules I through V — based on each substance's accepted medical use, abuse potential, and safety under medical supervision.
Cannabis Under the CSA
Marijuana (cannabis) was placed in Schedule I of the CSA — the most restrictive category — in 1970. Schedule I classification means the federal government has determined the substance has:
- No currently accepted medical use
- A high potential for abuse
- A lack of accepted safety even under medical supervision
This classification is legally unchanged, despite 38+ states legalizing medical cannabis, 24+ states legalizing adult-use cannabis, and the FDA approving Epidiolex (a cannabis-derived CBD pharmaceutical) as a Schedule V medication.
The Federal-State Law Conflict
The CSA's supremacy over state law creates the fundamental tension in cannabis regulation: state-licensed cannabis businesses are technically operating in violation of federal law regardless of state authorization. This conflict affects banking, taxation (Section 280E), bankruptcy, federal employment, and interstate commerce.
Scheduling Criteria
The CSA empowers the DEA and HHS to add, remove, or reschedule substances. The process requires an 8-factor analysis including scientific evidence of pharmacological effect, actual or relative potential for abuse, and the state of current scientific knowledge.
Related Terms
See also: [CSA Schedule I](/glossary/csa-schedule-i), [Cannabis Rescheduling](/glossary/cannabis-rescheduling), [Section 280E](/glossary/section-280e), [Cole Memo](/glossary/cole-memo)
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