§ 801. Congressional findings and declarations: controlled substances

§ 801. Congressional findings and declarations: controlled substances

(1) Many of the drugs included within this subchapter have a useful and legitimate medical purpose and are necessary to maintain the health and general welfare of the American people.

(2) The illegal importation, manufacture, distribution, and possession and improper use of controlled substances have a substantial and detrimental effect on the health and general welfare of the American people.

(3) A major portion of the traffic in controlled substances flows through interstate and foreign commerce. Incidents of the traffic which are not an integral part of the interstate or foreign flow, such as manufacture, local distribution, and possession, nonetheless have a substantial and direct effect upon interstate commerce because—

(A) after manufacture, many controlled substances are transported in interstate commerce,

(B) controlled substances distributed locally usually have been transported in interstate commerce immediately before their distribution, and

(C) controlled substances possessed commonly flow through interstate commerce immediately prior to such possession.

(4) Local distribution and possession of controlled substances contribute to swelling the interstate traffic in such substances.

(5) Controlled substances manufactured and distributed intrastate cannot be differentiated from controlled substances manufactured and distributed interstate. Thus, it is not feasible to distinguish, in terms of controls, between controlled substances manufactured and distributed interstate and controlled substances manufactured and distributed intrastate.

(6) Federal control of the intrastate incidents of the traffic in controlled substances is essential to the effective control of the interstate incidents of such traffic.

(7) The United States is a party to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, and other international conventions designed to establish effective control over international and domestic traffic in controlled substances.

(Pub. L. 91–513, title II, § 101, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1242.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in par. (1), was in the original “this title”, meaning title II of Pub. L. 91–513, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1242, and is popularly known as the “Controlled Substances Act”. For complete classification of title II to the Code, see second paragraph of Short Title note set out below and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 91–513, title II, § 704, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1284, provided that: “(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this title [see Short Title note below] shall become effective on the first day of the seventh calendar month that begins after the day immediately preceding the date of enactment [Oct. 27, 1970]. “(b) Parts A, B, E, and F of this title [Parts A, B, E, and F of this subchapter], section 702 [set out as a note under section 321 of this title], this section, and sections 705 through 709 [sections 901 to 904 of this title and note set out below], shall become effective upon enactment [Oct. 27, 1970]. “(c) Sections 305 (relating to labels and labeling) [section 825 of this title], and 306 (relating to manufacturing quotas) [section 826 of this title] shall become effective on the date specified in subsection (a) of this section, except that the Attorney General may by order published in the Federal Register postpone the effective date of either or both of these sections for such period as he may determine to be necessary for the efficient administration of this title [see Short Title note below].”

Short Title of 2025 Amendment

Pub. L. 119–26, § 1, July 16, 2025, 139 Stat. 410, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 802, 812, 822 to 824, 829a, 841, and 960 of this title and sections 290bb–36d, 1395l, and 1395m of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 812, 822, and 841 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act’ or the ‘HALT Fentanyl Act’.”

Short Title of 2022 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–215, § 1(a), Dec. 2, 2022, 136 Stat. 2257, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 802, 822, 823, 824, 827, 829a, 831, 841, 843, 882, and 958 of this title and sections 290bb–36d, 290dd–3, 1395l, 1395m, 1395cc–6, and 1396b of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, section 823 of this title, and sections 241 and 284 of Title 42] may be cited as the ‘Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act’.”

Short Title of 2021 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–53, § 1, Nov. 10, 2021, 135 Stat. 411, provided that: “This Act [amending section 822 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Ensuring Compliance Against Drug Diversion Act of 2021’.”

Pub. L. 117–36, § 1, Aug. 6, 2021, 135 Stat. 328, provided that: “This Act [amending section 824 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Debarment Enforcement of Bad Actor Registrants Act of 2021’ or the ‘DEBAR Act of 2021’.”

Short Title of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–271, title III, § 3211, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 3947, provided that: “This chapter [chapter 2 (§§ 3211, 3212) of subtitle B of title III of Pub. L. 115–271, enacting provisions set out as a note under section 829 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Empowering Pharmacists in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse Act’.”

Pub. L. 115–271, title III, § 3221, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 3947, provided that: “This chapter [chapter 3 (§§ 3221–3223) of subtitle B of title III of Pub. L. 115–271, amending section 822 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 822 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Safe Disposal of Unused Medication Act’.”

Pub. L. 115–271, title III, § 3231, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 3949, provided that: “This chapter [chapter 4 (§§ 3231, 3232) of subtitle B of title III of Pub. L. 115–271, amending section 831 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Special Registration for Telemedicine Clarification Act of 2018’.”

Pub. L. 115–271, title III, § 3271, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 3952, provided that: “This chapter [chapter 7 (§§ 3271–3274) of subtitle B of title III of Pub. L. 115–271, amending sections 827, 842, and 873 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 827 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Using Data To Prevent Opioid Diversion Act of 2018’.”

Pub. L. 115–271, title III, § 3281, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 3954, provided that: “This chapter [chapter 8 (§§ 3281, 3282) of subtitle B of title III of Pub. L. 115–271, amending section 826 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 826 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Opioid Quota Reform Act’.”

Pub. L. 115–271, title III, § 3291, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 3956, provided that: “This chapter [chapter 9 (§§ 3291, 3292) of subtitle B of title III of Pub. L. 115–271, enacting section 832 of this title and amending section 802 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Preventing Drug Diversion Act of 2018’.”

Short Title of 2017 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–83, § 1, Nov. 17, 2017, 131 Stat. 1267, provided that: “This Act [amending section 823 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017’.”

Short Title of 2016 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–145, § 1, Apr. 19, 2016, 130 Stat. 354, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 823 and 824 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016’.”

Short Title of 2014 Amendment

Pub. L. 113–260, § 1, Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2929, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 802, 811, 825, 842, and 960 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 825 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2014’.”

Pub. L. 113–143, § 1, Aug. 1, 2014, 128 Stat. 1750, provided that: “This Act [amending section 822 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act of 2014’.”

Short Title of 2012 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–144, title XI, § 1151, July 9, 2012, 126 Stat. 1130, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle D (§§ 1151–1153) of title XI of Pub. L. 112–144, amending sections 811 and 812 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012’.”

Short Title of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–273, § 1, Oct. 12, 2010, 124 Stat. 2858, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 822 and 828 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 822 of this title and listed in a table relating to sentencing guidelines set out as a note under section 994 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010’.”

Pub. L. 111–268, § 1, Oct. 12, 2010, 124 Stat. 2847, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 830 and 842 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 830 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act of 2010’.”

Pub. L. 111–220, § 1, Aug. 3, 2010, 124 Stat. 2372, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 841, 844, and 960 of this title and enacting provisions listed in a table relating to sentencing guidelines set out under section 994 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Fair Sentencing Act of 2010’.”

Short Title of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–425, § 1, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4820, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 831 of this title, amending sections 802, 823, 827, 829, 841, 843, 882, and 960 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 802 of this title and listed in a table relating to sentencing guidelines set out as a note under section 994 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008’.”

Pub. L. 110–415, § 1, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4349, provided that: “This Act [amending section 830 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Methamphetamine Production Prevention Act of 2008’.”

Short Title of 2006 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–177, title VII, § 701, Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 256, provided that: “This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005’.”

Short Title of 2005 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–57, § 1(a), Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 592, provided that: “This Act [amending section 953 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Controlled Substances Export Reform Act of 2005’.”

Short Title of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–358, § 1, Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1661, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 290bb–25f of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, amending sections 802 and 811 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under section 802 of this title and section 290aa–4 of Title 42 and listed in a table relating to sentencing guidelines set out as a note under section 994 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 802 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004’.”

Short Title of 2003 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–21, title VI, § 608(a), Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 691, provided that: “This section [amending sections 843 and 856 of this title and enacting provisions listed in a table relating to sentencing guidelines set out as a note under section 994 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2003’.”

Short Title of 2000 Amendments

Pub. L. 106–310, div. B, title XXXV, § 3501, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1222, provided that: “This title [amending sections 823 and 824 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000’.”

Pub. L. 106–310, div. B, title XXXVI, § 3601, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1227, provided that: “This title [enacting section 864 of this title and sections 290aa–5b and 290bb–9 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, amending sections 802, 830, 853, 856, and 863 of this title, sections 3663 and 3663A of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, section 524 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and sections 285o–2 and 3751 of Title 42, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 802, 872, 873, 886, and 1706 of this title, sections 524 and 994 of Title 28, and sections 201, 290aa–4, 290aa–5b and 3751 of Title 42] may be cited as the ‘Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act of 2000’.”

Pub. L. 106–172, § 1, Feb. 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 7, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 802, 827, 841 and 960 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 812 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Hillory J. Farias and Samantha Reid Date-Rape Drug Prohibition Act of 2000’.”

Short Title of 1998 Amendment