What schedule is cocaine classified as?

Cocaine is classified as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act. This classification is significant because it indicates that cocaine has a high potential for abuse that may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence, but it also has accepted medical uses in certain situations. For instance, it can be used as a local anesthetic for certain medical procedures, albeit under strict regulation.

Other schedules contain drugs with different levels of accepted medical use and potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs, for example, are considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, while Schedule III and IV drugs have lower potentials for abuse and are generally considered to be less dangerous than Schedule II drugs. Hence, the correct classification of cocaine reflects both its risk factors and its limited medical applicability.