Louisiana Houses Votes to Classify Abortion Pills as Controlled Substances

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Facts

  • In a first-of-its-kind law, the Louisiana House voted 64-29 to classify the abortion pills mifepristone and misoprostol as schedule IV controlled substances. If made law, possessing such pills would carry penalties of up to five years in prison and up to a $5K fine.1
  • This is an amendment to a state Senate bill intended to criminalize giving abortion pills to women without their knowledge. As these two drugs are used for non-abortion-related medical issues, only those with a prescription or a licensed doctor will be allowed to possess them.2
  • However, the law, which comes after Louisiana already banned both surgical and medical abortions, states that pregnant women would not be prosecuted for obtaining the pills themselves.3
  • The original intent of the law is still intact, which would ban 'coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud.' Violators of this provision could face penalties of up to 10 years in prison and 20 years if the pregnant woman is three or more months into her pregnancy.1
  • This bill, which must now pass the Senate and be signed by Gov. Jeff Landry, comes as the Oklahoma state House passed a law to make distributing abortion pills a drug trafficking felony, punishable by 10 years in prison, a $100K fine, or both.4

Sources: 1Forbes, 2thehill.com, 3NBC and 4Washington Post.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by MSNBC. After banning virtually any and all abortion procedures, the anti-abortion lawmakers of Louisiana want to make sure anyone trying to help women is living in fear, too. While doctors are already limiting their use of mifepristone and misoprostol, other patient supporters will now risk spending five, or possibly 10 years in prison for simply possessing one of these pills.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Louisiana Right to Life. Louisiana law clearly states that abortion, including through the use of pills, is illegal. Despite this, many pro-abortion individuals and businesses have illegally sold them online and on the street — most alarmingly to children — and thus put girls and women at risk of serious health issues. With this illegal trade running rampant, it makes sense to begin treating it as a drug crime.

Predictions