Dear jeraboo-ga;
Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question. The
answer is much simpler than you might think. Actually the chemical
profile of a drug (specifically a previously unknown designer or
synthetic narcotic) is not the sole factor and has little bearing on
whether or not the substance becomes a banned product. The issue of
controlled, illicit and prohibited substances is specifically
addressed in TITLE 21 - FOOD AND DRUGS CHAPTER 13 - DRUG ABUSE
PREVENTION AND CONTROL SUBCHAPTER I - CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT Part B -
Authority To Control; Standards and Schedules (short title, 21 USC
Sec. 812). Here there are three general criteria that a scheduled
substance must meet in order to be deemed ?controlled?:
(A) Potential for abuse
(B) Current accepted medical use in treatment in the United States (or
lack thereof)
(C) Accepted safety for use of the drug (or lack thereof)
How closely substances matches another controlled or prohibited
substances is neither here nor there. Each substance is judged on it?s
own merit so it?s chemical similarity or effectual similarity to other
known drugs are not primary factors in the control schedule it
receives (schedule I, II, III, IV, and V; schedule V being the most
controlled/prohibited). The magnitude of which each substance meets,
fails to meet or surpasses this legal litmus test on its own merit
determines it?s schedule, control, and/or prohibition.
You can read 21 USC Sec. 812 in its entirety here:
US DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINSTRATION
http://www.dea.gov/pubs/csa/812.htm
I hope you find that my answer exceeds your expectations. If you have
any questions about my research please post a clarification request
prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher
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