The Louisiana state House has recently passed an amended bill with significant implications for reproductive rights and healthcare. The bill, which was approved with a 64-29 vote, aims to classify the abortion pills -inducing drugs misoprostol and mifepristone as Schedule IV controlled dangerous substances, similar to narcotics and depressants, according to CNN.
Sponsored by Republican state Senator Thomas Pressly, Senate Bill 276 seeks to criminalize the non-consensual administration of abortion pills. The amendment to reclassify these drugs was introduced after the bill passed the Senate, highlighting the issue’s contentious nature.
Pressly proposed this legislation based on personal experience, revealing that his sister was given misoprostol without her consent. Notably, abortion is already banned in Louisiana without exceptions for rape or incest, making this bill even more restrictive.
Medication abortion involves taking mifepristone to block progesterone, necessary for pregnancy continuation, followed by misoprostol to induce uterine contractions. Despite misoprostol’s long-standing availability and approval for various medical uses, its classification as a controlled substance raises concerns.
Under the bill, possessing these drugs without a valid prescription could lead to felony charges, up to five years in prison, and fines up to $5,000. However, pregnant individuals possessing these drugs for personal use and doctors prescribing them would be exempt.
The bill has faced significant criticism. Vice President Kamala Harris condemned it as “absolutely unconscionable,” while the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America supported it as a measure against drug abuse while ensuring access for legitimate medical reasons.
A group of nearly 270 Louisiana physicians, healthcare providers, and medical students expressed concerns over the reclassification, arguing that these drugs are safe and have no potential for abuse or dependence. Pressly defended the bill, asserting that it would not restrict the legitimate medical prescription or use of these drugs and would not harm women’s healthcare.
If the state Senate approves the amended bill, it will go to Republican Governor Jeff Landry for final approval. If signed into law, Louisiana would be the only state to classify abortion drugs as controlled dangerous substances, potentially influencing other states to follow suit, CNN reported.