H.R. 7970

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7970 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7970

To amend the Controlled Substances Act to permanently schedule 2-
benzylbenzimidazole opioids (commonly referred to as nitazenes) as 
Schedule 1 controlled substances, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 18, 2026

Mr. Latta introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Controlled Substances Act to permanently schedule 2-
benzylbenzimidazole opioids (commonly referred to as nitazenes) as 
Schedule 1 controlled substances, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Tools to Outlaw 
Poisonous Nitazenes Act'' or the ``STOP Nitazenes Act''.

SEC. 2. CLASS I SCHEDULING OF NITAZENES.

(a) In General.--Section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act 
(21 U.S.C. 812(c)) is amended by adding at the end of Schedule I the 
following:
``(f)(1) Unless specifically exempted or unless listed in another 
schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that 
contains--
``(A) any quantity of a 2-benzylbenzimidazole opioid; or
``(B) the salts, isomers, and salts of isomers of a 2-
benzylbenzimidazole opioid.
``(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term `2-
benzylbenzimidazole opioid' includes the following:
``(A) A substance that is structurally related to 2-
benzylbenzimidazole with the following modifications:
``(i) At the 1-position, substitution with an alkyl 
linker connected to a substituted amine group 
containing hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, or a heteroaryl 
group, such as a morphilino, pyrrolidino, or 
piperidinyl group, whether or not further substituted.
``(ii) At the 2-position--
``(I) replacement of the alkyl portion of 
the benzyl group with a substituted or 
unsubstituted alkyl, alkoxy, carbamates group, 
nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen atom; or
``(II) replacement of the phenyl portion of 
the benzyl group with an aryl or heteroaryl 
group.
``(iii) Substitution on the phenyl portion of the 
benzimidazole ring with a hydrogen atom, halogen, 
nitro, cyano, substituted or unsubstituted amide, 
amine, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, or heteroaryl group.
``(iv) At the 6-position, substitution with 
hydrogen, nitro, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, 
trifluoromethoxy, cyano, and halogen group.
``(B) A substance that exhibits agonist activity at the mu-
opioid receptor.
``(C) Etonitazene, clonitazene, metonitazene, 
isotonitazene, protonitazene, butonitazene, etodesnitazene, 
flunitazene, N-pyrrolidino etonitazene, N-desethyl 
isotonitazene, and N-piperidinyl etonitazene.
``(3) The Attorney General may by order publish in the Federal 
Register a list of substances that satisfy the definition of the term 
`2-benzyl benzimidazole opioid' in paragraph (2).''.
(b) Removal of Temporary Status.--Any substance included in the 
amendment made by subsection (a) that was temporarily scheduled under 
section 201(h) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 811(h)) 
shall be deemed permanently scheduled and subject to the requirements 
of Schedule I of section 202(c) of that Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)) as of 
the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. RULEMAKING.

(a) Interim Final Rule.--The Attorney General--
(1) shall, not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, issue rules to implement this Act, 
including the amendments made by this Act; and
(2) may issue the rules under paragraph (1) as an interim 
final rule.
(b) Procedure for Final Rule.--
(1) Effectiveness of interim final rules.--A rule issued by 
the Attorney General as an interim final rule under subsection 
(a) shall become immediately effective as an interim final rule 
without requiring the Attorney General to demonstrate good 
cause therefor, notwithstanding subparagraph (B) of section 
553(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Opportunity for comment and hearing.--An interim final 
rule issued under subsection (a) shall give interested persons 
the opportunity to comment and to request a hearing.
(3) Final rule.--After the conclusion of proceedings under 
paragraph (2), the Attorney General shall issue a final rule to 
implement this Act, including the amendments made by this Act, 
in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code.
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