Louisiana governor signs bill to make abortion-inducing pills a controlled dangerous substance

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill into law that reclassifies two drugs that can induce abortions as Schedule IV controlled dangerous substances.

The two pills, mifepristone and misoprostol are commonly used in reproductive health care. The two pills can be used for miscarriage treatment, Cushing's syndrome treatment and hemorrhaging treatment.

An amendment was added to Senate Bill 276 that would change the classification of the two pills to Schedule IV. This would mean it is illegal for someone to knowingly possess the drugs and could face up to five years in prison. 

The bill also creates the crime of coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud to forbid a third party from intentionally using an abortion-inducing drug to cause, or attempt to cause, an abortion or a confiding pregnant mother without her understanding or agreement, according to a news release.

SB276, started as legislation from state Sen. Thomas Pressly, R-Shreveport. Pressly's sister, Catherine Pressly Herring, was poisoned by her husband while she was pregnant without her knowing.

"Requiring an abortion-inducing drug to be obtained with a prescription and criminalizing the use of an abortion drug on an unsuspecting mother is nothing short of common-sense," said Landry. "This bill protects women across Louisiana, and I was proud to sign this bill into law today."

Sarah Zagorski, the Communications Director for Louisiana Right to Life said in a news release that the new law won't "stop physicians from prescribing these medications for legitimate health purposes, nor will it criminalize a pregnant woman taking the abortion pill."

Groups and leaders from around the state, US react

“Abortion drug poisoning is a new form of domestic violence. Gov. Landry took a stand for women today as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have quested to erase Catherine Herring and the women like her who have experienced abortion drug poisoning and coercion. Leaders on both sides of the aisle must take this threat to women seriously and roll back the shield laws and mail-order of abortion drugs that enable abusers.”

SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser

"We applaud Gov. Jeff Landry for signing the Abortion by Fraud Criminalization Act to stop abortion-inducing drugs from getting into the hands of predators and minors. We know that the abortion pill crisis is rampant in Louisiana and we believe SB 276 will deter bad actors from obtaining these medications."

Sarah Zagorski, the Communications Director for Louisiana Right to Life

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