Which act created the framework for the establishment of the DEA?

The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, enacted in 1938, provides the foundation for the regulation of food, drugs, and cosmetics in the United States. While this act itself does not directly establish the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), it was a pivotal piece of legislation that led to the regulatory framework for controlled substances.

The DEA was formally created in 1973, under the Department of Justice, in response to the growing need for a consolidated agency to combat drug trafficking and abuse. The legal authority that the DEA operates under is largely derived from the Controlled Substances Act, which was itself passed in 1970 as an amendment to the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act. The FDA’s regulations, as established by the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, laid the groundwork for ensuring drug safety and efficacy, which ultimately supports broader drug enforcement efforts.

The other acts mentioned, while significant in their own rights, either focused more narrowly on specific aspects of drug regulation (like standards for safety and efficacy) or are historical acts that predate the modern regulatory framework for controlled substances.