The U.S. government divides narcotics into five categories called “schedules.” Nevada drug crimes involving Schedule I drugs carry the harshest penalties.
The federal statute 21 U.S.C. 812 defines Schedule I drugs as:1
(1) Schedule I.—
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.
1. Common Schedule I drugs in Nevada
(scroll down further for a comprehensive list)
- Heroin – Read our article on heroin crimes
- LSD (“acid”)
- GHB (“date rape drug”) – Read our article on GHB crimes
- Peyote (mescaline)
- Ecstasy – Read our article on ecstasy crimes
- PCP
In 2022, a district judge in Nevada ruled that it is unconstitutional to classify marijuana as a Schedule I drug. This could prevent people from being prosecuted for marijuana-related crimes under statutes that only apply to Schedule 1 drugs but do not explicitly say marijuana (a.k.a. cannabis, THC, weed, pot).2
Note that Nevada has a Medical Marijuana program. The program permits pre-approved patients to possess small amounts of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Learn more about the Nevada Medical Marijuana Program and Nevada Medical Marijuana Dispensary Laws.
Also, note that federal law does not currently recognize medical marijuana as legal. Therefore, medical marijuana patients and dispensers in Nevada are always at risk of federal prosecution.3
- Read our article on marijuana crimes
2. Comprehensive List of Schedule I Drugs
Opiates:
- Acetylmethadol
- Allylprodine
- Alphacetylmathadol
- Alphameprodine
- Alphamethadol
- Benzethidine
- Betacetylmethadol
- Betameprodine
- Betamethadol
- Betaprodine
- Clonitazene
- Dextromoramide
- Dextrorphan
- Diampromide
- Diethylthiambutene
- Dimenoxadol
- Dimepheptanol
- Dimethylthiambutene
- Dioxaphetyl butyrate
- Dipipanone
- Ethylmethylthiambutene
- Etonitazene
- Etoxeridine
- Furethidine
- Hydroxypethidine
- Ketobemidone
- Levomoramide
- Levophenacylmorphan
- Morpheridine
- Noracymethadol
- Norlevorphanol
- Normethadone
- Norpipanone
- Phenadoxone
- Phenampromide
- Phenomorphan
- Phenoperidine
- Piritramide
- Propheptazine
- Properidine
- Racemoramide
- Trimeperidine
Opiate Derivatives:
- Acetorphine
- Acetyldihydrocodeine
- Benzylmorphine
- Codeine methylbromide
- Codeine-N-Oxide
- Cyprenorphine
- Desomorphine
- Dihydromorphine
- Etorphine
- Heroin
- Hydromorphinol
- Methyldesorphine
- Methylhydromorphine
- Morphine methylbromide
- Morphine methylsulfonate
- Morphine-N-Oxide
- Myrophine
- Nicocodeine
- Nicomorphine
- Normorphine
- Pholcodine
- Thebacon
Hallucinogenic Substances:
- 3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine
- 5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine
- 3,4,5-trimethoxy amphetamine
- Bufotenine
- Diethyltryptamine
- Dimethyltryptamine
- 4-methyl-2,5-diamethoxyamphetamine
- Ibogaine
- Lysergic acid diethylamide
- Mescaline
- Peyote
- N-ethyl-3-piperidyl benzilate
- N-methyl-3-piperidyl benzilate
- Psilocybin
- Psilocyn
- 4-methylmethcathinone (Mephedrone)
- 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)
- 2-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethylphenyl)ethanamine (2C-E)
- 2-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)ethanamine (2C-D)
- 2-(4-Chloro-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine (2C-C)
- 2-(4-Iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine (2C-I)
- 2-[4-(Ethylthio)-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl]ethanamine (2C-T-2)
- 2-[4-(Isopropylthio)-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl]ethanamine (2C-T-4)
- 2-(2,5-Dimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine (2C-H)
- 2-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-nitro-phenyl)ethanamine (2C-N)
- 2-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylphenyl)ethanamine (2C-P)
Cannabimimetic Agents:
- 5-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol (CP-47,497)
- 5-(1,1-dimethyloctyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol (cannabicyclohexanol or CP-47,497 C8-homolog)
- 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-018 and AM678)
- 1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-073)
- 1-hexyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-019)
- 1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-200)
- 1-pentyl-3-(2-methoxyphenylacetyl)indole (JWH-250)
- 1-pentyl-3-[1-(4-methoxynaphthoyl)]indole (JWH-081)
- 1-pentyl-3-(4-methyl-1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-122)
- 1-pentyl-3-(4-chloro-1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-398)
- 1-(5-fluoropentyl)-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (AM2201)
- 1-(5-fluoropentyl)-3-(2-iodobenzoyl)indole (AM694)
- 1-pentyl-3-[(4-methoxy)-benzoyl]indole (SR-19 and RCS-4)
- 1-cyclohexylethyl-3-(2-methoxyphenylacetyl)indole (SR-18 and RCS-8)
- 1-pentyl-3-(2-chlorophenylacetyl)indole (JWH-203)4
3. Schedule I Drug Crimes in Nevada
For more information on Nevada drug crimes involving Schedule I drugs, see the following articles:
4. Other Drug Schedules in Nevada
For more information on drug schedules II through V, see our following articles:
Additional Resources
If you are struggling with substance abuse addiction, you can find help here:
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA) – A 12-step program to overcome drug addiction.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) – 24/7 treatment referral service.
- Recovery Centers of America – Treatment centers in seven states.
- SMART Recovery – Group therapy for young people struggling with addiction.
- Partnership to End Addiction – Information on how to find drug addiction treatment.
1 U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Controlled Substances Act.
2 Katelyn Newberg, Nevada’s drug classification for cannabis ruled unconstitutional, Las Vegas Review-Journal (September 14, 2022).
3 Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Medical Marijuana. Office of National Drug Control Policy, Marijuana Resource Center: Federal Laws Relating to Marijuana.
4 21 USC § 812.
