Department of Justice April 11, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

With the issuance of this final order, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is permanently placing 2-(2-(4- ethoxybenzyl)-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl)-N,N-diethylethan-1-amine (other names: etodesnitazene; etazene), 2-(4-ethoxybenzyl)-5-nitro-1-(2- (pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethyl)-1H-benzimidazole (other names: N-pyrrolidino etonitazene; etonitazepyne), and N,N-diethyl-2-(5-nitro-2-(4- propoxybenzyl)-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl)ethan-1-amine (other name: protonitazene), including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers whenever the existence of such isomers, esters, ethers, and salts are possible within the specific chemical designation, in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. This scheduling action discharges the United States' obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961). This action imposes permanent regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, import, export, engage in research or conduct instructional activities with, or possess), or handle etodesnitazene, N-pyrrolidino etonitazene, and protonitazene.

The Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is issuing this temporary scheduling order to extend the temporary schedule I status of butonitazene, flunitazene, and metodesnitazene, as identified in this order. The schedule I status of these three substances currently is in effect through April 12, 2024. This temporary order will extend the temporary scheduling of these three substances for one year, or until the permanent scheduling action for these substances is completed, whichever occurs first.