Georgia Controlled Substance Schedules
On this page
- Schedule I: Highest Abuse Potential, No Accepted Medical Use
- Schedule II: High Abuse Potential With Restricted Medical Use
- Schedule III: Moderate Abuse Potential
- Schedule IV: Lower Abuse Potential
- Schedule V: Lowest Abuse Potential
- A Note on Marijuana and Periodic Updates
- Why the Schedule Matters
- Related posts:
Georgia’s Controlled Substances Act sorts regulated drugs into five schedules, each defined by its abuse potential and its accepted medical use. The schedule a substance falls into is not just an administrative label; it directly shapes the criminal penalty range that applies to possession, distribution, or trafficking involving that substance. This page lays out what belongs in each schedule, while the criteria and process used to place a substance into a schedule in the first place are addressed separately.
Schedule I: Highest Abuse Potential, No Accepted Medical Use
Schedule I, codified at O.C.G.A. § 16-13-25, covers substances Georgia law treats as having a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. This category includes heroin, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), psilocybin (the compound found in certain mushrooms), and MDMA, along with a range of synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic opioids that have been added to the schedule over time. Because these substances have no recognized medical use under Georgia law, there is no lawful prescribing pathway for them in the way there is for drugs in lower schedules.
Schedule II: High Abuse Potential With Restricted Medical Use
Schedule II, under O.C.G.A. § 16-13-26, also reflects a high potential for abuse, but unlike Schedule I, these substances have an accepted medical use subject to severe restrictions. This schedule includes oxycodone, morphine, codeine in higher-dose formulations, and fentanyl, all of which have legitimate clinical applications under tightly controlled prescribing rules. Cocaine appears here as well, reflecting its limited use as a medical local anesthetic in some clinical settings, distinct from its illicit use. Amphetamines and methamphetamine, which retain a narrow recognized medical use, are also classified in this schedule.
Schedule III: Moderate Abuse Potential
Schedule III, at O.C.G.A. § 16-13-27, covers substances with a moderate potential for abuse relative to Schedules I and II, paired with an accepted medical use. Examples include anabolic steroids, ketamine, and certain combination products containing limited quantities of codeine alongside other active ingredients.
Schedule IV: Lower Abuse Potential
Schedule IV, codified at O.C.G.A. § 16-13-28, includes substances Georgia law recognizes as having a lower potential for abuse than the schedules above it. Commonly prescribed benzodiazepines such as diazepam and alprazolam fall into this schedule, along with certain barbiturates and the prescription pain medication tramadol.
Schedule V: Lowest Abuse Potential
Schedule V, under O.C.G.A. § 16-13-29, is reserved for substances with the lowest abuse potential among scheduled drugs. This typically includes preparations containing only limited quantities of narcotic substances, such as certain cough syrups formulated with small amounts of codeine.
A Note on Marijuana and Periodic Updates
Marijuana’s treatment under Georgia law has been the subject of separate statutory provisions and legislative change over time, distinct from a straightforward placement within the five schedules described above. Readers researching marijuana specifically should be aware that this area has shifted in recent years and should not assume a single, fixed schedule placement applies. More broadly, the State Board of Pharmacy reviews and updates the schedules periodically, which means specific substances can move between schedules or be added to the list over time.
Why the Schedule Matters
The practical significance of all this classification work shows up at sentencing. Under O.C.G.A. § 16-13-30, the schedule a substance belongs to is a primary factor driving the penalty range for possession, distribution, or trafficking offenses involving that substance. A Schedule I or II narcotic generally carries a more severe penalty structure than a Schedule IV or V substance, which is why identifying the correct schedule is a foundational step in understanding how a given controlled substance charge is structured under Georgia law.
This article provides general information about Georgia law and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed Georgia attorney about a specific situation.