Louisiana lawmakers have passed a bill that would classify abortion-inducing drugs misoprostol and mifepristone as Schedule IV controlled dangerous substances, making them subject to the same regulations as narcotics and depressants. The bill, Senate Bill 276, was approved by the state Senate with a 29-7 vote and is now awaiting the signature of Governor Jeff Landry. If signed into law, Louisiana would be the first state to classify these drugs in this way, with abortion already banned in the state with no exceptions for rape or incest.
The legislation would make it a crime to give abortion medication to a person without their consent, with penalties including up to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000 for those found in possession of the drugs without a valid prescription. However, pregnant women in possession of the drugs for their own consumption would not face these penalties and Louisiana doctors would still be able to prescribe the drugs. The bill was introduced by Republican state Sen. Thomas Pressly, who cited his sister being given misoprostol against her will as motivation for the legislation.
In a medication abortion, mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone needed for a pregnancy to continue, followed by the administration of misoprostol which causes the uterus to contract. Despite their approved use for other conditions, such as preventing stomach ulcers, these drugs have been controversial in the context of abortion legislation. The reclassification of mifepristone and misoprostol has been met with opposition from a group of 270 Louisiana physicians, health care providers, and medical students who argued that these drugs do not pose a potential for abuse or public health risk.
The bill would also include penalties for distribution or possession with intent to distribute Schedule IV drugs, with potential imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to $15,000. However, the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Pressly, reassured that the legislation would not inhibit the prescribing or dispensing of the drugs for legitimate medical reasons. Despite concerns raised by healthcare professionals, the bill passed both the state House and Senate with the classification of mifepristone and misoprostol as Schedule IV controlled substances.
As the bill now awaits Governor Landry’s signature, its passage in Louisiana could set a precedent for other states in regulating abortion-inducing drugs. The reclassification of mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled substances reflects the ongoing debate surrounding abortion access and legislation in the United States, with the potential for further legal challenges and advocacy efforts from reproductive rights groups. The move to classify these drugs as Schedule IV controlled substances represents a significant shift in how medication abortion is regulated at the state level.
