The Controlled Substances Act established how many schedules for categorizing drugs?

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The question tests how federal law classifies controlled substances by abuse potential and medical use. The Controlled Substances Act sets up five schedules, from Schedule I through Schedule V, to create a tiered framework for how drugs are regulated. This five-tier system guides penalties, prescribing rules, and enforcement. Schedule I substances are considered to have the highest potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in the United States. Schedule II drugs also have a high potential for abuse but do have accepted medical uses and are tightly controlled. Schedules III to V represent progressively lower potential for abuse and progressively broader medical use and prescribing flexibility, with Schedule V generally having the lowest risk. Since there are five distinct categories, the correct answer is five.