July 14, 2020
Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
Most people who are arrested for drug possession are arrested by a local law enforcement agency. However, they may end up being charged with a federal offense, because drug possession can be both a state and federal crime. Federal drug charges often involve serious minimum mandatory sentences, even when they involve relatively small amounts of a controlled substance.
The federal government, under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA), regulates the possession of drugs, separating various substances into five schedules based on their perceived potential for abuse, medical use and safety.
Federal Drug Categories
Schedule I :
Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are drugs with no currently accepted medical value in the United States and have a high potential for abuse. The federal government still includes marijuana as a Schedule I drug along with heroin, Ecstasy, LSD and Bath Salts.
Even though almost half of the United States has decriminalized medical marijuana possession, and a number of states are adopting recreational marijuana policies, marijuana is still considered a Schedule I drug under Federal law.
Schedule II:
Schedule II drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. These drugs are also considered dangerous but are considered to have a currently accepted medical value in the United States. Some examples of Schedule II drugs are: Combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per dosage unit (Vicodin), cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin.
Schedule III:
Schedule III drugs, substances, or chemicals are drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Schedule III drugs are currently accepted for medical use, but still have a potential for abuse. Some examples of Schedule III drugs are: Products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone and some appetite suppressants.
Schedule IV:
Schedule IV drugs, substances, or chemicals are classified as drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence, including commonly prescribed drugs such as Xanax, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Ambien, and Tramadol.
Schedule V:
Schedule V drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with lower potential for abuse than Schedule IV and consist of preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotics. Schedule V drugs are generally used for antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic purposes. Some examples of Schedule V drugs are cough preparations with less than 200 milligrams of codeine or per 100 milliliters (Robitussin AC), Lomotil, and Lyrica.
If you are facing federal drug charges and are in need of a federal criminal defense lawyer, you have come to the right place. At the Law Office of Brian H. Mallonee you will receive representation from a fearless, dedicated, and well-experienced federal criminal defense lawyer who will not make mistakes. Contact the Law Office of Brian H. Mallonee at (772) 464-1991 today to schedule your consultation.
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