Drug offenses are taken very seriously in Mississippi. The drugs themselves, some chemicals used to make drugs, and certain related substances are listed under five schedules or categories.
Schedule 1
Drug charges that apply to Schedule 1 will generally be related to marijuana, LSD, heroin, Ecstasy, methaqualone and peyote. Schedule 1 drugs and all related chemicals are officially defined as drugs for which no accepted medical use exists. They are also defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse.
Schedule 2
Penalties for possessing Schedule 2 drugs are generally higher. These are drugs and related substances that have a high potential for psychological or physical dependence. Examples include Vicodin, cocaine, methadone, methamphetamine, Adderall, Ritalin, fentanyl and others.
Schedule 3
Schedule 3 drugs and related substances are defined as those that possess a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. The potential for abuse is lower than Schedule 2 but higher than Schedule 4. Typical examples include anabolic steroids, testosterone, Tylenol with added codeine, and ketamine.
Schedule 4
Schedule IV drugs and related chemicals are defined as those with a low potential for abuse. There is also a relatively low risk of dependence. Common examples include Xanax, Darvon, Soma, Darvocet, and Valium.
Schedule 5
Drugs and related chemicals listed under Schedule 5 include Robitussin AC, Lyrica, Lomotil, Parepectolin, and Motofen. These are defined as drugs with a lower potential for abuse than those listed under Schedule 4. They generally contain limited quantities of certain types of narcotics.
Schedule 5 drugs are most often used to combat conditions such as diarrhea. They can also be employed for antitussive and analgesic purposes. Penalties related to the drugs listed under Schedule 5 are generally lesser under most circumstances.
