Louisiana House Passes Bill to Make Abortion Drugs Controlled Substances

A bill to reclassify two abortion-inducing drugs as “controlled dangerous substances” passed the Louisiana House on May 21 over the objections of Democrats. The bill aims to criminalize possession of the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol without a valid prescription. While both are commonly used to induce abortion—which is almost entirely outlawed in Louisiana—misoprostol is also used for other purposes, such as miscarriage care and to prevent stomach ulcers in certain patients. Those with a prescription would still be able to legally obtain and possess the drugs. But Democrats voiced concerns that the new law could result in delays in treatment for women suffering complications from miscarriages in a state with one of the highest maternal mortality rates....