The state of Louisiana now wants to categorize some abortion pills as dangerous controlled substances. Officials are now making this happen through a new bill, which already passed the House. If it becomes law, two abortion pills would no longer be accessible without valid prescriptions.
Louisiana to Categorize Abortion Pills as Dangerous Controlled Substances
According to NBC News' latest report, the bill was approved by the Louisiana House on Tuesday, May 21. Anti-abortion groups supported it, and it passed 64-29 in the House of Representatives.
The new bill is targeting abortion medications misoprostol and mifepristone to Schedule IV of Louisiana's Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. This measure isn't surprising since the state considers abortion illegal, both medical and surgical.
Even without the bill, it's already illegal in the state to prescribe abortion medications to terminate pregnancies. However, there are limited circumstances when it's allowed. Right now, the bill will go back to the Senate. Once it is approved, it will be sent to the governor so it can be signed into law.
About Louisiana's Anti-Abortion Pill Bill
BBC reported that residents who violate the new bill (if it becomes law) could face jail time for unauthorized possession. This means that those who want to access these abortion medications need to have valid prescriptions.
If they can't, they would face fines or even be imprisoned. Initially, the new bill was only aimed at making giving a woman abortion pills without her consent or knowledge a severe crime.
However, the legislation was revised, including the controlled substances recategorization in the bill. Although anti-abortion groups support the new policy, some health experts are concerned about its effects.
Many of them said that the two medications that the bill targets have other purposes aside from terminating pregnancies, such as serving as treatments for stomach ulcers as well as helping manage postpartum hemorrhaging.
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