Methamphetamine is a Schedule II narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act, Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. If a person is convicted of trafficking methamphetamine, depending on the amount of methamphetamine and if a person was injured or killed during the crime, the trafficker can receive 5 to 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10 million for the first offense. In addition to being a Schedule II drug itself, methamphetamine is made from chemicals that are regulated under the Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996. This act broadens controls on drugs such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. It also increases penalties for trafficking and possession of such chemicals without registration.

Methamphetamine, a derivative of amphetamine, is a powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Amphetamine was originally intended for use in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers and has limited medical applications, including the treatment of narcolepsy, weight control, and attention deficit disorder. Methamphetamine can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested, or injected. It is accessible in many different forms and may be identified by color, which ranges from white or yellow to darker colors such as red or brown. Methamphetamine comes in a powder form that resembles granulated crystals and in a rock form known as "ice", which is preferred by those who smoke methamphetamine. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), users have been known to use cocaine, marijuana, morphine, and alcohol in combination with methamphetamine.