Louisiana became the first state to criminalize abortion pills without a valid prescription on Friday when the state’s Republican governor signed an agreement controversial bill declare two abortion medications as controlled substances.
The legislation makes it illegal for mifepristone and misoprostol, two medications used to induce a medical abortion, to be obtained without a prescription.
Gov. Jeff Landry called signing the bill “common sense” on a Friday post on social media platform.
“Requiring that an abortion-inducing medication be obtained with a prescription and criminalizing the use of an abortion medication by an innocent mother is nothing short of common senseYes,” Landry wrote. “This bill protects women across Louisiana and I was proud to sign it into law today.“
The unprecedented move makes Louisiana the first state to designate abortion drugs as controlled substances, adding them to the Louisiana Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act. The legislation, which will take effect on October 1, stipulates that both abortion medications can only be obtained legally in the state through doctors with a special license.
Those who possess the drugs without a prescription are now subject to up to five years in prison, however, there are some protections under the law for pregnant women who have the drugs in their possession for their own use, notes The Associated Press.
Previously, prescriptions for mifepristone and misoprostol were required in Louisiana, but possession of the drugs without a prescription was not criminalized. The Louisiana House voted earlier this week to change that, with 64 votes in favor and 29 against. The state’s upper house also voted to advance the legislation 29-7 on Thursday.
Vice President Harris previously criticized the legislation, calling it “absolutely unconscionable” after it cleared its first hurdle in the state.
“The Louisiana House just passed a bill that would criminalize possession of a medication abortion, with penalties of up to several years in prison,” she wrote in a statement. post on X. “Let’s be clear: Donald Trump did it.”
Several states have enacted stricter abortion laws since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022, including Arizona, where officials enacted a near-total abortion ban that was repealed shortly after its passage.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
