Synthetic Cannabis to Be Added to List of Controlled Substances

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has commended House and Senate negotiators for agreeing on legislation to control 26 synthetic drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. These drugs include those commonly found in products marketed as “K2” and “Spice.” The addition of these chemicals to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act will be included as part of S. 3187, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act. In addition to scheduling the 26 drugs, the new law would double the length of time a substance may be temporarily placed in schedule I, from 18 to 36 months. In addition to explicitly naming 26 substances, the legislation creates a new definition for “cannabamimetic agents,” creating criteria by which similar chemical compounds are controlled.

Read more about synthetic cannabinoid drugs in Psychiatric News, here.