What are imitation controlled substances?

Imitation controlled substances refer to substances that are designed to resemble or mimic the appearance of controlled substances but are not necessarily regulated by law as those substances. The key aspect of this definition is the focus on how these substances visually imitate the legal drugs, which can lead to misuse or confusion by consumers who may believe they have procured a legitimate controlled substance.

While substances that can be purchased over the counter, or those that are legal and do not require a prescription, may seem similar in the context of accessibility, they may not necessarily appear like controlled substances. Furthermore, the category of substances that are completely disallowed by law does not align with the definition of imitation controlled substances, as these would be illegal substances but not necessarily ones that mimic the appearance of others.

Thus, the correct understanding centers on the visual mimicry of controlled substances that might lead individuals to mistakenly perceive these imitation substances as legal or safe alternatives.