Abstract
The process by which new drugs are scheduled and existing drugs rescheduled is among the most critical elements in the modern system of drug control. For all of its importance, it remains a deeply flawed process, poorly understood by scholars. This essay examines a core element in this process – drug abuse liability assessment – from an historical perspective. The review argues that the role of law and corporations in the sorting process must be better understood, and concludes with an overview of three critical issues that have frustrated drug abuse liability assessment in the past.