What are scheduled drugs?
Drugs are categorized based on a number of factors, including risk of dependency, addiction, and whether or not they have any legitimate medical use. Schedule I for example, are considered to be the most dangerous, whereas Schedule VII would be considered to be the least dangerous. Below is some further explanation as well as example of drugs included in those categories. [pullquote]Fines and punishment of drug offenses are directly correlated to the type of drug which was possessed, manufactured or sold. [/pullquote]
Schedule I drugs include those that are the most dangerous and have a high risk of addiction or dependency and no legitimate medical use. Drugs included under this heading include LSD, heroin, mescaline and some varieties of mushrooms. (Found in its entirety at Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-406)
Schedule II substances still have a high risk of abuse but may have legitimate medical uses. Schedule II drugs include opium, cocaine, methadone, methamphetamines, and amphetamines. [pullquote]Schedule II drugs include opium, cocaine, methadone, methamphetamines, and amphetamines.[/pullquote](Found in its entirety at Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-408)
Schedule III drugs have moderate risk of abuse. Schedule III substances include anabolic steroids, testosterone, ketamine, and some depressants. (Found in its entirety at Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-410)
Schedule IV drugs have a slight risk of dependency and have very acceptable medical uses. Some Schedule IV drugs are clonazepam, tranquilizers, and sedatives. (Found in its entirety at Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-412)
Schedule V drugs are substances which have a very low risk of dependency and include drugs like Tylenol with Codeine. (Found in its entirety at Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-414)
[pullquote]Schedule VI drugs includes marijuana[/pullquote] which is thought to have a very low risk of physical dependency and some legitimate medical use, albeit controversial. (Found in its entirety at Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-416)
Schedule VII includes only Butyl Nitrate also called “poppers”. (Found in its entirety at Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-418)
If you are facing any drug charge in Tennessee, it is important you have an attorney who understands the complexity of drug crimes and possible sentencing. There are many factors to consider when analyzing a drug offense, including the type of drug, location of the arrest, whether or not any possible enhancement exist, or may exist upon presentation to a grand jury, as well as the range of the offender. If you have been charged with any drug crime in Tennessee, call our Tennessee criminal defense attorneys.
