A common street drug is now a Schedule I controlled substance

The US Drug Enforcement Administration is temporarily classifying bromazolam, a benzodiazepine often sold on the street, as a Schedule I controlled substance. This means anyone who makes, distributes, or possesses bromazolam will face the same strict penalties as for heroin or ecstasy.

The DEA uses temporary scheduling to quickly ban new drugs that appear on the street. This allows them to bypass the usual, slower process for adding drugs to the Controlled Substances Act. It means that a drug that was previously unregulated can suddenly carry severe criminal penalties for anyone involved with it.