Louisiana Lawmakers Pass Bill to Make Abortion-Inducing Drugs Controlled Substances

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a controversial bill that would reclassify two medications commonly used to induce abortions as controlled dangerous substances. The bill, which passed in the state’s GOP-controlled House of Representatives, has sparked debate among anti-abortion groups, medical professionals, and reproductive rights advocates.

The measure would add the medications mifepristone and misoprostol to Schedule IV of the state’s Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. Possession of these drugs without a valid prescription would become a crime punishable by fines, jail time, or both. The bill also includes provisions to criminalize coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud.

Medical professionals have expressed concerns about the bill, stating that the medications have important uses outside of abortion care, such as aiding in labor and delivery, miscarriage treatment, and preventing gastrointestinal ulcers. They argue that reclassifying these medications as controlled substances could hinder their legitimate medical use.

Despite opposition, the bill passed in the House and will now go back to the Senate for approval before reaching the governor’s desk. If signed into law, Louisiana would become the only state to categorize these medications as controlled dangerous substances.

Critics of the bill, including doctors and reproductive rights advocates, argue that the reclassification is not scientifically based and could create barriers to accessing essential healthcare services. They emphasize the importance of prioritizing safe and evidence-based care for pregnant individuals in Louisiana.

The debate over the bill highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding abortion access and reproductive rights in the state. As the legislation moves forward, stakeholders on all sides of the issue continue to voice their concerns and advocate for their positions.