Rep. Latta Introduces STOP Nitazenes Act to Permanently Ban Deadly Synthetic Opioids
STOP Nitazenes Act
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would permanently classify nitazenes — a group of extremely potent synthetic opioids — as Schedule 1 controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act, the most restrictive drug category. Some of these substances are currently only temporarily scheduled.
- The bill names specific nitazene compounds like etonitazene, metonitazene, and isotonitazene, while also using broad chemical language to cover variations that drug makers might create to dodge the law.
From policy text
“Etonitazene, clonitazene, metonitazene, isotonitazene, protonitazene, butonitazene, etodesnitazene, flunitazene, N-pyrrolidino etonitazene, N-desethyl isotonitazene, and N-piperidinyl etonitazene.”
View in full text - Any nitazene compounds that were previously banned on a temporary basis would automatically become permanently scheduled under this law, closing a gap where temporary bans could expire.
From policy text
“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”
View in full text - The Attorney General would gain authority to publish a Federal Register list of substances meeting the nitazene definition, allowing the government to keep pace as new chemical variants emerge.
From policy text
“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).”
View in full text - The Justice Department must issue rules to implement the law within one year of enactment, and may use an interim final rule that takes effect immediately without the usual delay for public comment.
From policy text
“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”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
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.
Introduced in House
What Happens Next
Projected impacts based on AI analysis
If enacted, all nitazenes become permanently Schedule 1 controlled substances immediately
Law enforcement can bring the full weight of federal drug trafficking laws against anyone making, selling, or possessing these substances, and temporary scheduling gaps are closed.
The Attorney General must issue rules implementing the law within one year of enactment
Detailed enforcement procedures, substance tracking requirements, and the official Federal Register list of banned nitazene compounds would be finalized, giving law enforcement and labs clear guidance.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
STOP Nitazenes Act
Sponsor
Data Sources
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.