UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    Form 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of  1934


                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                  March 6, 1997


                          Gum Tech International, Inc.
               ---------------------------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in it charter)


         Utah                          0-27646               87-0482806
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission            (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)                    File Number)        Identification Number)


                            4205 North Seventh Avenue
                                    Suite 300
                             Phoenix, AZ 85013-3080
                     --------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (602) 277-0606


                                 Not applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




<PAGE>


ITEM 5.  Other Events

     On March 6,  1997,  the  Company  completed  the  sale of an  aggregate  of
$2,530,000.00  convertible  debentures.  The debentures bear interest at 11% per
annum and are due and payable on January 1, 2002. The debentures are convertible
into shares of the Company's  common stock at $4.75 per share.  The common stock
issueable under the debentures carries certain  registration  rights on or after
July 31, 1997.  However,  any shares issueable upon conversion of the debentures
are subject to a lock-up  agreement with the Company  through  January 31, 1998.
The proceeds of the sale of the convertible  debentures will be used for working
capital and other corporate purposes.

ITEM 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (c) Exhibits:

          10.20   Form of Convertible Note dated February 20, 1997.
          10.21   Registration Rights Agreement


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                     GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                                     (Registrant)

                                     By: /s/ Jeffrey L. Bouchy
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Jeffrey L. Bouchy
                                         Chief Financial Officer


Dated: March 6, 1997
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UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    Form 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of  1934

                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                  March 6, 1997

                          Gum Tech International, Inc.
               ---------------------------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in it charter)

         Utah                          0-27646               87-0482806
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission            (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)                    File Number)        Identification Number)

                            4205 North Seventh Avenue
                                    Suite 300
                             Phoenix, AZ 85013-3080
                     --------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (602) 277-0606

                                 Not applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
ITEM 5.  Other Events

     On March 6,  1997,  the  Company  completed  the  sale of an  aggregate  of
$2,530,000.00  convertible  debentures.  The debentures bear interest at 11% per
annum and are due and payable on January 1, 2002. The debentures are convertible
into shares of the Company's  common stock at $4.75 per share.  The common stock
issueable under the debentures carries certain  registration  rights on or after
July 31, 1997.  However,  any shares issueable upon conversion of the debentures
are subject to a lock-up  agreement with the Company  through  January 31, 1998.
The proceeds of the sale of the convertible  debentures will be used for working
capital and other corporate purposes.

ITEM 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (c) Exhibits:

          10.20   Form of Convertible Note dated February 20, 1997.
          10.21   Registration Rights Agreement

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                     GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                                     (Registrant)

                                     By: /s/ Jeffrey L. Bouchy
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Jeffrey L. Bouchy
                                         Chief Financial Officer

Dated: March 6, 1997