DEA Extends Temporary Schedule 1 Classification of Synthetic Cannabinoids

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a final rule extending the temporary placement of five synthetic cannabinoids into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.  Along with the banned cannabinoids are the salts, isomers and salts of isomers related to the substances.  The extension of this temporary placement comes at the expiration of a previous temporary scheduling which expired on February 29, 2012.  The ruling will extend the scheduling to August 29, 2012 or until rulemaking proceedings are completed, whichever is shorter.

The Final Order is published in the Federal Register, amending 21 CFR 1308.11(g) and was deemed necessary to avoid an impending hazardous threat to public safety.  The ruling is based on information gathered by the DEA on the pharmacology, chemistry, trafficking, abuse patterns, and potential for abuse of five synthetic cannabinoids 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl) indole (JWH–018), 1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl) indole (JWH–073), 1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-3-(1-naphthoyl) indole (JWH–200), 5-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)-phenol (CP–47,497), and 5-(1,1-dimethyloctyl)-2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)-phenol(cannabicyclohexanol, CP–47,497 C8homologue).