Which agency is primarily responsible for enforcing the Controlled Substances Act?

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is the agency primarily responsible for enforcing the Controlled Substances Act. This legislation regulates the manufacture, distribution, and dispensing of narcotics and other controlled substances. The DEA specifically works to combat drug trafficking and abuse by enforcing the provisions of the Controlled Substances Act, which categorizes drugs based on their potential for abuse and medical use.

The DEA also plays a critical role in supporting drug law enforcement at both the federal and state levels, conducting investigations, and collecting drug-related intelligence. This focus on drug enforcement and regulation makes it the key agency in regards to the Controlled Substances Act, ensuring compliance and managing problematic aspects of controlled substances.

While other agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), contribute to drug regulation, particularly in approval and safety assessments, they do not enforce the Controlled Substances Act. Similarly, while the Department of Justice (DOJ) oversees law enforcement in a broader sense, it does so through divisions and agencies like the DEA, which has a specific mandate relating to controlled substances. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has areas of responsibility that intersect with drug enforcement, particularly regarding organized crime, but it is not the primary enforcing agency for the Controlled Substances Act.

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