Louisiana Becomes First State to Classify Abortion-Inducing Medications as Controlled Substances

In a significant move, Louisiana has become the first state to classify two abortion-inducing medications, misoprostol and mifepristone, as controlled substances. Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, signed the legislation into law on Friday, making possession of these pills without a prescription a crime.

The newly enacted law reclassifies misoprostol and mifepristone, which are commonly used together as a two-step regimen to terminate early pregnancies, as Schedule IV drugs. This places them in the same category as opioids, depressants, and other potentially addictive medications, making them more difficult to obtain.

It is important to note that at the federal level, these drugs are not classified as controlled substances and can be used independently for the treatment of other conditions. However, with their new classification in Louisiana, individuals who possess them without a valid prescription could face jail time and fines. Pregnant women, however, are exempted from prosecution under this law.

Critics of the bill, such as Ellie Schilling, an attorney specializing in reproductive health law, argue that it will make it "incredibly difficult" to use these medications for medically necessary purposes. They also express concerns about increased government monitoring of pregnant women and doctors who prescribe such medication.

This development comes as abortion opponents and abortion rights advocates await a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on whether to restrict access to mifepristone. The court appeared to be leaning toward allowing the drug to remain widely available.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights, more than 60% of abortions in the U.S. healthcare system were done through medication last year. This statistic highlights the significance of this law in Louisiana, where both medication and surgical abortions are already banned except in cases where the mother's life is in danger or the pregnancy is deemed "medically futile."

The enactment of this legislation could have far-reaching implications for women's reproductive rights in the state and potentially serve as a model for other states considering similar measures.