PCP (Phencyclidine) - The Law

The Law

Under the terms of the U.S. Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970, PCP is classified as a Schedule II hallucinogen. This classification means the drug carries a high potential for abuse and may only be used legally in certain, tightly restricted medical settings—usually in cases involving drug research. In the United Kingdom, PCP is listed as a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This means that PCP is not legal for any medical use, and it is illegal to possess or supply the substance to anyone.

The manufacture, sale, use, and possession of PCP are illegal in the United States and the United Kingdom. In the United States, first-time offenders may end up in prison for five to forty years and be fined up to $4 million. Repeat offenders can face a penalty of twenty years to life in prison and fines of up to $8 million. In the United Kingdom, possession of the drug is punishable with a fine, and up to seven years in prison, while supplying the drug can lead to larger fines and life imprisonment.

There are more than thirty substances that are chemically very similar to PCP, including PCPy, TCP, and PCE. These are often sold on the street as PCP, and perhaps are even accidentally manufactured by illegal drug makers. All of these substances are classified as Schedule I hallucinogens by the DEA. Schedule I drugs have no recognized medical uses.