In a groundbreaking move, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has signed a bill into law that categorizes abortion pills as controlled substances. This landmark legislation puts the abortion pill regimen, known as mifepristone and misoprostol, in the same category as opioids and other addictive medications.

Governor Landry believes that requiring a prescription for abortion-inducing drugs and criminalizing their misuse is a necessary step to protect unsuspecting mothers. He stated, "This bill protects women across Louisiana and I was proud to sign this bill into law today." The law aims to ensure the safe and regulated use of these drugs and prevent their abuse.

Effective from October 1, the law makes it illegal to possess abortion pills without a valid prescription in Louisiana, a state with a near-total ban on abortion. However, the legislation clarifies that the drugs can still be used for non-abortion purposes, and women using them for those reasons will not face punishment.

The bill gained approval with a vote of 29-7 in the state Senate, which is dominated by more than 70% Republicans. It had earlier passed in the state House. Under the new law, possessing these medications without a prescription will be considered a crime, punishable by up to five years in prison. However, pregnant women who possess the pills for their own consumption will be exempt from prosecution.

Notably, the legislation also criminalizes "coerced criminal abortion." This provision prohibits anyone from using abortion-inducing drugs fraudulently to cause or attempt to cause an abortion on an unsuspecting pregnant woman, without their knowledge or consent. The punishment for this offense is severe, carrying a sentence of five to ten years in prison and a fine ranging from $10,000 to $75,000.

The law aims to address cases of coercive actions, a matter highlighted by State Senator Thomas Pressly, who shared his personal connection to the issue. Pressly revealed that his pregnant sister's husband had attempted multiple times to induce an abortion unsuccessfully. Coerced criminal abortion committed on a pregnant woman who is more than three months pregnant is subject to even harsher penalties, including 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine ranging from $50,000 to $100,000.

While this legislation is significant in and of itself, a separate federal case is currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court that seeks to revoke the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, the first pill used in a two-drug regimen for medication abortion. If successful, this case could have nationwide implications on access to the medication. A decision from the Supreme Court is expected by the end of June.

The Guttmacher Institute, a research organization supporting abortion access, reported that medication abortions constituted 63% of all abortions in 2023. This highlights the significance and potential impact of laws regulating the use and availability of abortion-inducing drugs.

Louisiana's new law represents a significant development in the regulation of abortion pills and sets a precedent for how these medications are classified and controlled. The ongoing legal battle surrounding mifepristone could shape the future of medication abortions in the United States.