Louisiana Legislature Approves Bill to Classify Abortion Pills as Controlled Substances

Louisiana is on the brink of reclassifying two abortion-inducing drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, as controlled and dangerous substances, a move that has sparked controversy and debate among lawmakers, doctors, and advocates on both sides of the abortion issue.

Supporters of the bill argue that reclassifying the drugs will protect expectant mothers from coerced abortions, citing a case in Texas where a woman’s husband slipped her misoprostol pills without her knowledge. However, opponents, including numerous doctors, warn that the reclassification will make it harder for them to prescribe the medications for other important reproductive health-care needs, such as treating miscarriages, inducing labor, and stopping hemorrhaging.

The bill’s passage comes at a critical time as the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates on a case that could restrict access to mifepristone. While the justices did not appear ready to limit access to the drug during arguments, the reclassification in Louisiana could set a precedent for other Republican states seeking tighter restrictions on abortion drugs.

Vice-President Kamala Harris has condemned the bill as “absolutely unconscionable,” while more than 200 doctors in Louisiana have signed a letter warning of the potential barriers to care and negative outcomes for pregnant women in a state with high maternal mortality rates.

The legislation now awaits the signature of Governor Jeff Landry, a conservative Republican who has expressed support for the measure. With the reclassification looming, the future of abortion access in Louisiana hangs in the balance, with implications that could extend far beyond the state’s borders.