Before outlining the different drug offenses covered in the DC Code, it is necessary to clarify what constitutes a controlled substance.
Controlled substances are defined in Section 48-901.02(4) as a drug or substance enumerated in Schedule I through Schedule V of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). In short, Schedule I controlled substances are the most strictly regulated because they are deemed unsafe and have a high potential of abuse, whereas Schedule V controlled substances are the least regulated because of a low potential of abuse.