Controlled Dangerous Substances

Controlled Dangerous Substances

Any drug that has been declared by federal or state law to be illegal for use or distribution without a prescription from a licensed physician is considered a Controlled Substance.  The  Controlled Substances Act was passed by congress in 1970 under the Nixon administration in order to better classify different types of drugs and to provide a clear standard by which state and federal courts can rule on drug cases.  This standard separates drugs into different categories called “schedules.”  Each schedule is marked in descending order by the severity of the drugs. This is decided by the drug’s level of abuse, the potentially for physical and psychological dependency and its current accepted medical application.

Schedule I Drugs

Schedule I drugs are categorized as such by their high level of abuse, the severe risk of physical and/or psychological dependence, but mainly by the fact that there is no currently accepted medical application for them.

Some Common Schedule I Drugs include:
Marijuana
Heroin
Peyote
LSD
Mescaline

While the state of Maryland recognizes some acceptable medical applications for Marijuana, the federal government does not.

Medicinal Marijuana Use

In 2003 Maryland became the 9th state to legalize the medicinal use of the drug marijuana.  Marijuana users who can prove that they use the drug out of medical necessity and have a recommendation from a physician are allowed to possess less than one ounce of marijuana and are protected under Maryland’s medical marijuana law.  Governor Ehrlich passed this law under intense pressure from the Bush administration to veto the bill.  Ehrlich was the first Republican governor to sign a bill relaxing the penalties for medicinal use of marijuana.  If you use marijuana out of medical necessity and have been charged with possession of a controlled substance, you should get immediate legal representation.

Schedule II Drugs

What separates Schedule I from Schedule II controlled substances is that Schedule II drugs have a currently acceptable medical application.  Also, users of these drugs may be less likely to form physical or psychological dependencies.

Some Common Schedule II Drugs include Cocaine
Opium
Morphine
Methamphetamines
Oxycodone

Since it is possible to get prescriptions for most of these drugs, sometimes it is possible for both the user and the physician to come under scrutiny if it becomes obvious that a prescribed drug is being used for anything other than medicinal purposes. 

If you’ve been charged with possession or possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, please visit the website of Jimeno-Gray Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys to schedule a consultation today.