Washington- The Louisiana Senate passed a bill Thursday that would classify drugs used in medication abortions as controlled substances, criminalizing possession of the drugs without a prescription. It now heads to the governor for his signature.
The state Senate approved the bill in a 29-7 vote after it passed the House earlier this week. The bill is expected to be signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, making Louisiana the first state to classify misoprostol and mifepristone — the two drugs used in a regimen aimed at terminating early pregnancies — as controlled substances.
The scheme accounts for well over half of all abortions in the United States, making it a key avenue for those who support abortion rights and a target for abortion opponents. Drugs are generally designated as controlled substances when they are considered addictive, such as opioids or depressants. And this designation allows states to create a database of who receives the drugs. It also makes possession of drugs without a prescription a crime. But under the law, pregnant women are exempt from prosecution.
Abortion is already banned in Louisiana in most cases. Exceptions are made when the abortion is deemed necessary to prevent a risk of death to the mother or when the pregnancy is “medically unnecessary.” But the legislation could serve as a model for other states to tackle drugs commonly used in early pregnancies.
The Biden-Harris campaign clearly critical on Wednesday, hosting a press call with former New Orleans mayor and Biden campaign co-chair Mitch Landrieu, who placed the blame squarely on former President Donald Trump.
“Louisiana women are about to live in a world where they can be monitored and tracked and even sent to prison for simply possessing FDA-approved medications,” Landrieu said. “What is happening right here in Louisiana is just one example of this dystopian agenda that Trump and his allies are pushing.”
The drugs are also used outside of abortions, for other care such as managing miscarriages. Ellie Schilling, a Louisiana attorney who specializes in reproductive health law, told reporters that the bill would make it “incredibly difficult” to use these drugs for medically necessary purposes and would cause the government to monitor pregnant women. and those who prescribe medications. .
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