In the U.S., cocaine is legally a narcotic. Medically, it is not. More on the classification of cocaine under the Controlled Substances Act here. read more
Statutory classification of a drug as a narcotic often increases the penalties for violation of drug control statutes. For example, although federal law classifies both cocaine and amphetamines as "Schedule II" drugs, the penalty for possession of cocaine is greater than the penalty for possession of amphetamines because cocaine, unlike amphetamines, is classified as a narcotic. read more
In medicine; No, cocaine is not a narcotic. In criminal law; Yes, cocaine is a narcotic. Although cocaine is pharmacologically not a narcotic, federal and state drug control laws have classified it as one from 1922 through the present. Statutory classification of cocaine as a narcotic: an illogical anachronism. read more