Louisiana legislators pass bill to designate abortion medications as controlled dangerous substances

Louisiana lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday to classify abortion-inducing drugs misoprostol and mifepristone as Schedule IV controlled dangerous substances in the state. This means they will be regulated like narcotics and depressants.

The bill was approved by the state House earlier this week and passed by the state Senate with a vote of 29-7. It will now go to Republican Gov. Jeff Landry for final approval, which is expected to happen.

CNN has contacted Landry’s office to get a comment.

If the law is passed, Louisiana would be the first state to categorize these drugs as controlled dangerous substances. Abortion is currently prohibited in Louisiana without any exceptions for rape or incest.

Senate Bill 276 aims to criminalize the act of giving abortion medication to someone without their permission. An amendment was made to the bill to classify these drugs as Schedule IV substances. This change was approved by the Senate on Thursday.

The bill was introduced by Republican state Sen. Thomas Pressly. He was inspired to propose this legislation after his sister was forced to take the drug misoprostol without her consent.

In a medication abortion, mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for a pregnancy to continue. Following this, misoprostol is taken within the next 24 to 48 hours. This causes the uterus to contract, leading to cramping and bleeding. Misoprostol has been available at pharmacies for many years and is also approved for other conditions, such as preventing stomach ulcers.

Under the new measure, individuals caught with these drugs without a valid prescription could be charged with a felony. This offense carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and fines reaching up to $5,000.

Pregnant women who have mifepristone and misoprostol for their personal use would not face penalties under the law. Louisiana doctors would still be allowed to prescribe these drugs.

In Louisiana, being convicted of distributing or intending to distribute Schedule IV drugs could lead to up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $15,000.

A group of nearly 270 Louisiana physicians, health care providers, and medical students expressed their concerns about the bill to Pressly. They believe that mifepristone and misoprostol do not pose any risks of abuse, dependence, public health issues, or high rates of adverse effects.

Pressly reassured that the legislation will not interfere with the legitimate prescribing or dispensing of the drugs.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNN’s Shawn Nottingham and John Bonifield contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The classification of abortion-inducing drugs as controlled dangerous substances in Louisiana is a deeply concerning move that further restricts access to safe and legal reproductive healthcare. The criminalization of these drugs, which are essential for medication abortions, will disproportionately impact marginalized communities and those already facing barriers to healthcare. It is crucial to recognize that these drugs are medically safe and effective, and their classification as controlled substances is based on political ideology rather than scientific evidence.

The assertion that these drugs pose a risk of abuse or public health issues is unsubstantiated. In fact, they have been used safely and effectively for decades. The legislation's focus on criminalizing individuals caught with these drugs without a prescription is misguided and will only serve to further stigmatize abortion and limit access to essential healthcare. It is imperative that we prioritize evidence-based policies that protect reproductive rights and ensure access to comprehensive healthcare for all.