Overview
The Convention on Psychotropic Substances was adopted in Vienna on 21 February 1971.
It was convened by the United Nations Economic and Social Council to establish international control over synthetic and natural psychotropic substances not covered by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
The Convention defines a system of four Schedules (I–IV) grouping substances according to their potential for abuse, public health risk, and recognized medical value.
Each State Party agrees to restrict use to medical and scientific purposes and to prevent diversion into illicit traffic.
Intent and Scope
Preamble:
- Concern for public health and social problems caused by abuse of psychotropic substances.
- Recognition that such substances are indispensable for medicine and science but require control.
- Determination that international cooperation and coordination are necessary.
Implementation:
- Each Party must enact national measures to enforce the provisions of the Convention (Art. 22).
- The World Health Organization (WHO) evaluates substances and recommends scheduling (Art. 2 § 4).
- The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) decides on additions, transfers, or deletions (Art. 2 § 5).
- Substances may be placed in Schedule I, II, III, or IV depending on their abuse potential, health risk, and medical usefulness.
- Traditional or religious use of certain plants may be reserved by States at ratification (Art. 32 § 4).
The Four Schedules
Schedule I
Strictest control.
Use limited to scientific and very restricted medical purposes under direct government supervision (Art. 7).
Examples: lysergide (LSD), DMT, psilocybine, mescaline, MDMA, THC (early form).
Measures include:
- prohibition of non-scientific use
- special licensing and recordkeeping
- export/import only by competent authorities
Schedule II
Controlled substances with recognized medical application but high risk of abuse.
Examples: amphetamine, methamphetamine, methylphenidate, phencyclidine.
Measures include:
- manufacture and trade under licence (Art. 8)
- medical prescriptions required (Art. 9)
- import/export authorizations (Art. 12)
Schedule III
Moderate control, lower risk of dependence, accepted therapeutic use.
Examples: buprenorphine, flunitrazepam, pentobarbital, cathine.
Measures include:
- licensing and record requirements (Arts. 8–11)
- prescriptions as determined nationally (Art. 9)
Schedule IV
Lowest control.
Mild abuse potential, wide medical application (mainly sedatives and anxiolytics).
Examples: benzodiazepines (diazepam, alprazolam), barbiturates, phenobarbital.
Measures include:
- records for manufacture and international trade (Art. 11)
- prescription and labelling standards (Art. 10)
- prohibition of public advertising (Art. 10 § 2)
National and International Administration
- Each Party should maintain a special administrative authority for implementation (Art. 6).
- The WHO provides medical–scientific assessments.
- The CND decides on scheduling changes by two-thirds majority (Art. 17 § 2).
- The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) monitors compliance and may request explanations or recommend embargoes (Art. 19)
Enforcement
- Parties must treat intentional violations as punishable offences (Art. 22).
- States may adopt stricter measures than required (Art. 23).
- Measures include inspection, licensing, recordkeeping, import/export control, and reporting to the INCB (Arts. 8–16).
Entry into Force
- Open for signature until 1 January 1972.
- Entered into force 90 days after 40 ratifications (Art. 26).
- States may denounce the Convention after two years (Art. 29).
- Applies to all territories under the jurisdiction of each Party unless excluded by notification (Art. 27).