Washington — The Louisiana Senate on Thursday passed a bill that would classify the drugs used in abortions as controlled substances, making possession of the drugs without a prescription a crime. It now goes to the governor for his signature.
The Senate approved the bill 29-7 after it passed the House earlier this week. The bill is expected to be signed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry, making Louisiana the first state to classify misoprostol and mifepristone as controlled substances – the two drugs used in a regimen to terminate early pregnancies.
The regime is responsible for more than half of all abortions in the US, making it a major entry point for those who support abortion rights and a target for abortion opponents. Drugs are generally classified as controlled substances if they are considered addictive, such as opioids or tranquilizers. And the designation allows states to create a database of who receives the drugs. It also makes possession of the drugs without a prescription a crime. But under the law, pregnant women are exempt from prosecution.
In Louisiana, abortion is already banned in most cases. Exceptions are made when abortion is deemed necessary to prevent the risk of death to the mother or when the pregnancy is 'medically futile'. But the legislation could provide a template for other states to target the drugs commonly used in early-stage pregnancies.
The Biden-Harris campaign on edge criticized the effort on Wednesday, which included a press call with former New Orleans mayor and Biden campaign co-chairman Mitch Landrieu placing the blame squarely on former President Donald Trump.
“Women in Louisiana are one step closer to living in a world where they can be tracked, monitored and even sent to jail for merely possessing FDA-approved medications,” Landrieu said. “What is happening here in Louisiana is just one example of the dystopian agenda that Trump and his allies are pushing.”
The drugs are also used outside abortions, for other care, such as treating miscarriages. Ellie Schilling, a Louisiana attorney who specializes in reproductive health law, told reporters that the bill would make it “incredibly difficult” to use the drugs for medically necessary purposes and would require government surveillance of pregnant women and those who prescribe the medications. .
