In a historic move, the state of Louisiana has passed a bill to reclassify two commonly used abortion-inducing drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, as controlled and dangerous substances. The bill, which received final legislative passage on Thursday, is expected to be signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry.

Supporters of the reclassification argue that it will protect expectant mothers from coerced abortions. However, numerous doctors have voiced concerns that the reclassification will make it difficult for them to prescribe these drugs for other important reproductive health care needs, potentially causing delays in treatment. Over 200 physicians in the state have signed a letter to lawmakers, warning about the potential negative impact on ease of prescribing appropriate treatment and the maternal mortality rates in Louisiana.

Louisiana already has a near-total abortion ban in place, encompassing both surgical and medical abortions. The reclassification of mifepristone and misoprostol under the state's Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law could pave the way for other Republican states with abortion bans to seek tighter restrictions on these drugs.

Under the new law, obtaining these pills would be more challenging, as doctors would require a specific license to prescribe them, and the drugs would need to be stored in designated facilities that may be located far from rural clinics. Possessing the drugs without a valid prescription could lead to hefty fines and jail time. However, the bill does include language that appears to protect pregnant women who obtain the drugs without a prescription for personal consumption.

It should be noted that besides inducing abortions, mifepristone and misoprostol have other common uses such as treating miscarriages, inducing labor, and stopping hemorrhaging. While the FDA has determined their safety and effectiveness for ending early pregnancies, they are not classified as controlled substances on the federal level.

The Louisiana bill has been met with applause from abortion opponents and conservative Republicans. Conversely, Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, have strongly criticized the legislation, with Harris describing it as "absolutely unconscionable" in a social media post.

The recent arguments heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on restricting access to mifepristone did not indicate an immediate limitation on access to the drug. However, the passage of this bill in Louisiana may signal a new wave of restrictions being pursued by the conservative-leaning Legislature.

A recent survey revealed that in states with abortion bans or restrictions, thousands of women have been receiving abortion pills through mail-order services from states with laws protecting prescribers. It remains unclear how many of these cases are specifically in Louisiana.

The bill now awaits Governor Jeff Landry's signature. Given his support for the measure, as evidenced by his recent social media post acknowledging criticism from Vice President Kamala Harris, it is highly likely that the bill will become law.

Louisiana joining the ranks of states seeking to impose stricter regulations surrounding abortion-inducing drugs further intensifies the ongoing debate on reproductive rights in the United States.