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
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.
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.