21 U.S.C. § 823
(a) Manufacturers of controlled substances in schedule I or II The Attorney General shall register an applicant to manufacture controlled substances in schedule I or II if he determines that such registration is consistent with the public interest and with United States obligations under international treaties, conventions, or protocols in effect on . In determining the public interest, the following factors shall be considered:
(b) Distributors of controlled substances in schedule I or II The Attorney General shall register an applicant to distribute a controlled substance in schedule I or II unless he determines that the issuance of such registration is inconsistent with the public interest. In determining the public interest, the following factors shall be considered:
(d) Manufacturers of controlled substances in schedule III, IV, or V The Attorney General shall register an applicant to manufacture controlled substances in schedule III, IV, or V, unless he determines that the issuance of such registration is inconsistent with the public interest. In determining the public interest, the following factors shall be considered:
(e) Distributors of controlled substances in schedule III, IV, or V The Attorney General shall register an applicant to distribute controlled substances in schedule III, IV, or V, unless he determines that the issuance of such registration is inconsistent with the public interest. In determining the public interest, the following factors shall be considered:
(f) Research by practitioners; pharmacies; research applications; construction of Article 7 of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances The Attorney General shall register practitioners (including pharmacies, as distinguished from pharmacists) to dispense, or conduct research with, controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV, or V and shall modify the registrations of pharmacies so registered to authorize them to dispense controlled substances by means of the Internet, if the applicant is authorized to dispense, or conduct research with respect to, controlled substances under the laws of the State in which he practices. The Attorney General may deny an application for such registration or such modification of registration if the Attorney General determines that the issuance of such registration or modification would be inconsistent with the public interest. In determining the public interest, the following factors shall be considered:
Separate registration under this part for practitioners engaging in research with controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV, or V, who are already registered under this part in another capacity, shall not be required. Registration applications by practitioners wishing to conduct research with controlled substances in schedule I shall be referred to the Secretary, who shall determine the qualifications and competency of each practitioner requesting registration, as well as the merits of the research protocol. The Secretary, in determining the merits of each research protocol, shall consult with the Attorney General as to effective procedures to adequately safeguard against diversion of such controlled substances from legitimate medical or scientific use. Registration for the purpose of bona fide research with controlled substances in schedule I by a practitioner deemed qualified by the Secretary may be denied by the Attorney General only on a ground specified in section 824(a) of this title. Article 7 of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances shall not be construed to prohibit, or impose additional restrictions upon, research involving drugs or other substances scheduled under the convention which is conducted in conformity with this subsection and other applicable provisions of this subchapter.
(g) Practitioners dispensing narcotic drugs for narcotic treatment; annual registration; separate registration; qualifications; waiver
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), practitioners who dispense narcotic drugs to individuals for maintenance treatment or detoxification treatment shall obtain annually a separate registration for that purpose. The Attorney General shall register an applicant to dispense narcotic drugs to individuals for maintenance treatment or detoxification treatment (or both)
(2)
(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the conditions specified in this subparagraph with respect to a practitioner are that, before the initial dispensing of narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V or combinations of such drugs to patients for maintenance or detoxification treatment, the practitioner submit to the Secretary a notification of the intent of the practitioner to begin dispensing the drugs or combinations for such purpose, and that the notification contain the following certifications by the practitioner:
(ii) With respect to patients to whom the practitioner will provide such drugs or combinations of drugs, the practitioner has the capacity to provide directly, by referral, or in such other manner as determined by the Secretary—
(iii)
(C) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the conditions specified in this subparagraph with respect to narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V or combinations of such drugs are as follows:
(D)
(i) A waiver under subparagraph (A) with respect to a practitioner is not in effect unless (in addition to conditions under subparagraphs (B) and (C)) the following conditions are met:
(E)
(ii)
(F)
(G) For purposes of this paragraph:
(ii) The term “qualifying physician” means a physician who is licensed under State law and who meets one or more of the following conditions:
(II) The physician holds an addiction certification or board certification from the American Society of Addiction Medicine or the American Board of Addiction Medicine.
(IV) The physician has, with respect to the treatment and management of opiate-dependent patients, completed not less than 8 hours of training (through classroom situations, seminars at professional society meetings, electronic communications, or otherwise) that is provided by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Psychiatric Association, or any other organization that the Secretary determines is appropriate for purposes of this subclause. Such training shall include—
(iii) The term “qualifying practitioner” means—
(iv) The term “qualifying other practitioner” means a nurse practitioner or physician assistant who satisfies each of the following:
(II) The nurse practitioner or physician assistant has—
The Secretary may, by regulation, revise the requirements for being a qualifying other practitioner under this clause.
(H)
(i) In consultation with the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Secretary shall issue regulations (through notice and comment rulemaking) or issue practice guidelines to address the following:
Nothing in such regulations or practice guidelines may authorize any Federal official or employee to exercise supervision or control over the practice of medicine or the manner in which medical services are provided.
(I) Notwithstanding section 903 of this title, nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to preempt any State law that—
(h) Applicants for distribution of list I chemicals The Attorney General shall register an applicant to distribute a list I chemical unless the Attorney General determines that registration of the applicant is inconsistent with the public interest. Registration under this subsection shall not be required for the distribution of a drug product that is exempted under clause (iv) or (v) of section 802(39)(A) of this title. In determining the public interest for the purposes of this subsection, the Attorney General shall consider—
(i) Registration to manufacture certain controlled substances for use only in a clinical trial
(Pub. L. 91–513, title II, § 303, , 84 Stat. 1253; Pub. L. 93–281, § 3, , 88 Stat. 124; Pub. L. 95–633, title I, § 109, , 92 Stat. 3773; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 511, , 98 Stat. 2073; Pub. L. 103–200, § 3(c), , 107 Stat. 2336; Pub. L. 106–310, div. B, title XXXV, § 3502(a), , 114 Stat. 1222; Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title II, § 2501, , 116 Stat. 1803; Pub. L. 109–56, § 1(a), (b), , 119 Stat. 591; Pub. L. 109–177, title VII, § 712(a)(3), , 120 Stat. 263; Pub. L. 109–469, title XI, § 1102, , 120 Stat. 3540; Pub. L. 110–425, § 3(b), , 122 Stat. 4824; Pub. L. 114–89, § 3, , 129 Stat. 701; Pub. L. 114–145, § 2(a)(1), , 130 Stat. 354; Pub. L. 114–198, title III, § 303(a)(1), (b), , 130 Stat. 720, 723.)
Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V, referred to in subsecs. (a) to (f) and (g)(2), are set out in section 812(c) of this title.
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, referred to in subsec. (g)(2)(C)(i), is act June 25, 1938, ch. 675, 52 Stat. 1040, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 9 (§ 301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 301 of this title and Tables.
The date of enactment of the Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Expansion and Modernization Act, referred to in subsec. (g)(2)(H)(ii), probably means the date of enactment of Pub. L. 114–198, known as the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016, which was approved . The Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Expansion and Modernization Act was H.R. 4981 of the 114th Congress, as introduced on . Amendatory provisions of H.R. 4981 were incorporated into Pub. L. 114–198, but no such Short Title was enacted.
2016—Subsec. (g)(2)(B). Pub. L. 114–198, § 303(a)(1)(A), added cls. (i) to (iii) and struck out former cls. (i) to (iii) which read as follows:
“(i) The practitioner is a qualifying physician (as defined in subparagraph (G)).
“(ii) With respect to patients to whom the practitioner will provide such drugs or combinations of drugs, the practitioner has the capacity to refer the patients for appropriate counseling and other appropriate ancillary services.
“(iii) The total number of such patients of the practitioner at any one time will not exceed the applicable number. For purposes of this clause, the applicable number is 30, unless, not sooner than 1 year after the date on which the practitioner submitted the initial notification, the practitioner submits a second notification to the Secretary of the need and intent of the practitioner to treat up to 100 patients. A second notification under this clause shall contain the certifications required by clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph. The Secretary may by regulation change such total number.”
Subsec. (g)(2)(D)(ii). Pub. L. 114–198, § 303(a)(1)(B)(i), substituted “Upon receiving a determination from the Secretary under clause (iii) finding that a practitioner meets all requirements for a waiver under subparagraph (B)” for “Upon receiving a notification under subparagraph (B)”.
Subsec. (g)(2)(D)(iii). Pub. L. 114–198, § 303(a)(1)(B)(ii), inserted “and shall forward such determination to the Attorney General” after “a waiver under subparagraph (B)” and substituted “assign the practitioner” for “assign the physician”.
Subsec. (g)(2)(G)(ii)(I). Pub. L. 114–198, § 303(a)(1)(C)(i), amended subcl. (I) generally. Prior to amendment, subcl. (I) read as follows: “The physician holds a subspecialty board certification in addiction psychiatry from the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Subsec. (g)(2)(G)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 114–198, § 303(a)(1)(C)(ii), amended subcl. (II) generally. Prior to amendment, subcl. (II) read as follows: “The physician holds an addiction certification from the American Society of Addiction Medicine.”
Subsec. (g)(2)(G)(ii)(III). Pub. L. 114–198, § 303(a)(1)(C)(iii), struck out “subspecialty” before “board certification”.
Subsec. (g)(2)(G)(ii)(IV). Pub. L. 114–198, § 303(a)(1)(C)(iv), amended subcl. (IV) generally. Prior to amendment, subcl. (IV) read as follows: “The physician has, with respect to the treatment and management of opiate-dependent patients, completed not less than eight hours of training (through classroom situations, seminars at professional society meetings, electronic communications, or otherwise) that is provided by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Psychiatric Association, or any other organization that the Secretary determines is appropriate for purposes of this subclause.”
Subsec. (g)(2)(G)(iii), (iv). Pub. L. 114–198, § 303(a)(1)(C)(v), added cls. (iii) and (iv).
Subsec. (g)(2)(H)(i)(III). Pub. L. 114–198, § 303(a)(1)(D)(i), added subcl. (III).
Subsec. (g)(2)(H)(ii). Pub. L. 114–198, § 303(a)(1)(D)(ii), amended cl. (ii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (ii) read as follows: “Not later than 120 days after , the Secretary shall issue a treatment improvement protocol containing best practice guidelines for the treatment and maintenance of opiate-dependent patients. The Secretary shall develop the protocol in consultation with the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and other substance abuse disorder professionals. The protocol shall be guided by science.”
Subsec. (g)(2)(I), (J). Pub. L. 114–198, § 303(b), added subpar. (I) and struck out former subpars. (I) and (J) which limited a State’s ability to preclude a practitioner from dispensing or prescribing certain approved drugs and provided the effective date of the paragraph and authorized the Secretary and the Attorney General to make certain determinations.
Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 114–145 added subsec. (j).
2015—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 114–89 added subsec. (i).
2008—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–425, in introductory provisions, inserted “and shall modify the registrations of pharmacies so registered to authorize them to dispense controlled substances by means of the Internet” after “schedule II, III, IV, or V” and substituted “or such modification of registration if the Attorney General determines that the issuance of such registration or modification” for “if he determines that the issuance of such registration”.
2006—Subsec. (g)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 109–469, § 1102(1), substituted “unless, not sooner than 1 year after the date on which the practitioner submitted the initial notification, the practitioner submits a second notification to the Secretary of the need and intent of the practitioner to treat up to 100 patients. A second notification under this clause shall contain the certifications required by clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph. The” for “except that the”.
Subsec. (g)(2)(J)(i). Pub. L. 109–469, § 1102(2)(A), substituted “thereafter.” for “thereafter except as provided in clause (iii) (relating to a decision by the Secretary or the Attorney General that this paragraph should not remain in effect).”
Subsec. (g)(2)(J)(ii). Pub. L. 109–469, § 1102(2)(B), substituted “” for “” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (g)(2)(J)(iii). Pub. L. 109–469, § 1102(2)(C), substituted “subparagraph (B)(iii) should be applied by limiting the total number of patients a practitioner may treat to 30, then the provisions in such subparagraph (B)(iii) permitting more than 30 patients shall not apply, effective” for “this paragraph should not remain in effect, this paragraph ceases to be in effect”.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 109–177 substituted “clause (iv) or (v) of section 802(39)(A) of this title” for “section 802(39)(A)(iv) of this title” in introductory provisions.
2005—Subsec. (g)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 109–56, § 1(b), substituted “The total” for “In any case in which the practitioner is not in a group practice, the total”.
Subsec. (g)(2)(B)(iv). Pub. L. 109–56, § 1(a), struck out cl. (iv) which read as follows: “In any case in which the practitioner is in a group practice, the total number of such patients of the group practice at any one time will not exceed the applicable number. For purposes of this clause, the applicable number is 30, except that the Secretary may by regulation change such total number, and the Secretary for such purposes may by regulation establish different categories on the basis of the number of practitioners in a group practice and establish for the various categories different numerical limitations on the number of such patients that the group practice may have.”
2002—Subsec. (g)(2)(I). Pub. L. 107–273, § 2501(1), which directed the substitution of “on the date of approval by the Food and Drug Administration of a drug in schedule III, IV, or V, a State may not preclude a practitioner from dispensing or prescribing such drug, or combination of such drugs,” for “on , a State may not preclude a practitioner from dispensing or prescribing drugs in schedule III, IV, or V, or combinations of such drugs,”, was executed by making the substitution for the phrase which in the original began with “on the date of the enactment of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000,” rather than the editorial translation “on ,” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (g)(2)(J)(i). Pub. L. 107–273, § 2501(2), which directed the substitution of “the date referred to in subparagraph (I),” for “,” was executed by making the substitution for text which in the original read “the date of the enactment of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000,” rather than the editorial translation “,” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
2000—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 106–310 designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “Except as provided in paragraph (2), practitioners who dispense” for “Practitioners who dispense”, redesignated former pars. (1) to (3) as subpars. (A) to (C), respectively, of par. (1) and redesignated former subpars. (A) and (B) of former par. (2) as cls. (i) and (ii), respectively, of subpar. (B) of par. (1), and added par. (2).
1993—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 103–200 added subsec. (h).
1984—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 98–473 amended subsec. (f) generally, substituting provisions relating to registration authority of Attorney General respecting dispensation or conduct of research with controlled research, and separate authority of Secretary respecting registration, for provisions relating to general registration requirements respecting dispensation or conduct of research with controlled or nonnarcotic controlled substances.
1978—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 95–633 inserted provision relating to the construction of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
1974—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 93–281 added subsec. (g).
Amendment by Pub. L. 110–425 effective 180 days after , except as otherwise provided, see section 3(j) of Pub. L. 110–425, set out as a note under section 802 of this title.
Pub. L. 109–56, § 1(c), , 119 Stat. 591, provided that:
“This section [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [
Aug. 2, 2005].”
Amendment by Pub. L. 103–200 effective on date that is 120 days after , see section 11 of Pub. L. 103–200, set out as a note under section 802 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 95–633 effective on date the Convention on Psychotropic Substances enters into force in the United States [], see section 112 of Pub. L. 95–633, set out as an Effective Date note under section 801a of this title.
Pub. L. 114–198, title III, § 303(c), , 130 Stat. 723, provided that:
“Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act [
July 22, 2016], the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as appropriate, shall update regulations regarding practitioners described in subsection (a)(3)(B)(vii) (as amended by this section) [probably means subsec. (a)(3)(B)(vii) “of this section”, set out as a note below] to include nurse practitioners and physician assistants to ensure the quality of patient care and prevent diversion.”
Pub. L. 114–198, title III, § 303(a)(3), , 130 Stat. 722, provided that:
“(A) In general.— Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act [] and not later than 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Drug Enforcement Administration and experts in opioid use disorder research and treatment, shall—
- “(i) perform a thorough review of the provision of opioid use disorder treatment services in the United States, including services provided in opioid treatment programs and other specialty and nonspecialty settings; and
- “(ii) submit a report to the Congress on the findings and conclusions of such review.
“(B) Contents.— Each report under subparagraph (A) shall include an assessment of—
- “(i) compliance with the requirements of section 303(g)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(g)(2)), as amended by this section;
- “(ii) the measures taken by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to ensure such compliance;
- “(iii) whether there is further need to increase or decrease the number of patients a practitioner, pursuant to a waiver under section 303(g)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(g)(2)), is permitted to treat;
- “(iv) the extent to which, and proportions with which, the full range of Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for opioid use disorder are used in routine health care settings and specialty substance use disorder treatment settings;
- “(v) access to, and use of, counseling and recovery support services, including the percentage of patients receiving such services;
- “(vi) changes in State or local policies and legislation relating to opioid use disorder treatment;
- “(vii) the use of prescription drug monitoring programs by practitioners who are permitted to dispense narcotic drugs to individuals pursuant to a waiver described in clause (iii);
- “(viii) the findings resulting from inspections by the Drug Enforcement Administration of practitioners described in clause (vii); and
- “(ix) the effectiveness of cross-agency collaboration between [the] Department of Health and Human Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration for expanding effective opioid use disorder treatment.”
For provisional registration of persons engaged in manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing of controlled substances on the day before the effective date of section 822 of this title who are registered on such date under section 360 of this title or section 4722 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, see section 703 of Pub. L. 91–513, set out as a note under section 822 of this title.
1 See References in Text note below.