Title 21, Food and DrugsRelease 119-102
§801a Congressional Findings and Declarations: Psychotropic Substances
Title 21 › CHAPTER 13 — DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONTROL › SUBCHAPTER I — CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT › Part A — Introductory Provisions › § 801a
Summary
Congress requires the United States to control certain psychotropic drugs and to work with other countries to stop illegal making, selling, and use of those drugs. The U.S. joined the Convention on Psychotropic Substances signed in Vienna, Austria, on February 21, 1971. That treaty does not automatically change U.S. law, so Congress says the changes made by this Act together with existing laws must let the United States meet its treaty duties. When carrying out the treaty, controls should follow the rules in the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. That approach must keep lawful medical and scientific uses available, protect genuine research, and not interfere with accepted medical practice as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with input from the medical and scientific community.
Full Legal Text
Title 21, §801a
Food and Drugs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Congress makes the following findings and declarations:
(1)The Congress has long recognized the danger involved in the manufacture, distribution, and use of certain psychotropic substances for nonscientific and nonmedical purposes, and has provided strong and effective legislation to control illicit trafficking and to regulate legitimate uses of psychotropic substances in this country. Abuse of psychotropic substances has become a phenomenon common to many countries, however, and is not confined to national borders. It is, therefore, essential that the United States cooperate with other nations in establishing effective controls over international traffic in such substances.
(2)The United States has joined with other countries in executing an international treaty, entitled the Convention on Psychotropic Substances and signed at Vienna, Austria, on February 21, 1971, which is designed to establish suitable controls over the manufacture, distribution, transfer, and use of certain psychotropic substances. The Convention is not self-executing, and the obligations of the United States thereunder may only be performed pursuant to appropriate legislation. It is the intent of the Congress that the amendments made by this Act, together with existing law, will enable the United States to meet all of its obligations under the Convention and that no further legislation will be necessary for that purpose.
(3)In implementing the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the Congress intends that, consistent with the obligations of the United States under the Convention, control of psychotropic substances in the United States should be accomplished within the framework of the procedures and criteria for classification of substances provided in the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 [21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.]. This will insure that (A) the availability of psychotropic substances to manufacturers, distributors, dispensers, and researchers for useful and legitimate medical and scientific purposes will not be unduly restricted; (B) nothing in the Convention will interfere with bona fide research activities; and (C) nothing in the Convention will interfere with ethical medical practice in this country as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the basis of a consensus of the views of the American medical and scientific community.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This Act, referred to in par. (2), is Pub. L. 95–633, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 2768, as amended, known as the Psychotropic Substances Act of 1978, which enacted section 801a, 830, and 852 of this title, amended section 352, 802, 811, 812, 823, 827, 841 to 843, 872, 881, 952, 953, and 965 of this title and section 242a of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, repealed section 830 of this title effective Jan. 1, 1981, and enacted provisions set out as notes under section 801, 801a, 812, and 830 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 801 of this title and Tables. The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, referred to in par. (3), is Pub. L. 91–513, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1236, which is classified principally to this chapter [§ 801 et seq.]. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 801 of this title and Tables. Codification Section was enacted as a part of the Psychotropic Substances Act of 1978, and not as a part of the Controlled Substances Act which comprises this subchapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” in par. (3) pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.
Effective Date
Pub. L. 95–633, title I, § 112, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3774, provided that: “This title [enacting this section and section 852 of this title, amending section 352, 802, 811, 812, 823, 827, 872, 952, and 953 of this title and section 242a of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 801 and 812 of this title] and the
Amendments
made by this title shall take effect on the date the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, signed at Vienna, Austria on
February 21, 1971, enters into force in respect to the United States.” [The Convention entered into force in respect to the United States on
July 15, 1980.]
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
21 U.S.C. § 801a
Title 21, Food and Drugs
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102