Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Year : 2, Issue: 22
A controversial bill to classify mifepristone and misoprostol – two drugs used in medication abortion – as controlled substances has been signed into law.
Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has signed into Louisiana law a bill that classifies mifepristone and misoprostol – two drugs used in medication abortion – as controlled substances in the state.
The Louisiana House last week passed S.B. 276, which adds the medications to Schedule IV of the state’s Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. The Senate followed suit, sending the bill to Landry’s desk for his signature. The controlled dangerous substance designation threatens those in possession of the drug without a prescription with fines and jail time of up to five years.
GOP State Sen. Thomas Pressly said before its passage that the bill would help “control the rampant illegal distribution of abortion-inducing drugs.”
“By placing these drugs on the controlled substance list, we will assist law enforcement in protecting vulnerable women and unborn babies,” he added.
Louisiana already bans surgical and medical abortions except in cases where a patient’s life is in danger or the pregnancy is “medically futile.”
Louisiana is the first state to designate the drugs as controlled substances.
What Does the Law Do?
The law states that it is “unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess a controlled dangerous substance classified in Schedule IV” unless it was obtained with a valid prescription or order from a practitioner, or unless the person is acting in the course of their professional practice. It also contains the exception for pregnant women who possess mifepristone or misoprostol for their own use.
Those who are not exempt from the law would see fines of up to $5,000 or imprisonment of no more than five years with or without hard labor.
Source: US News
