Staff Reports
Louisiana lawmakers are making strides to classify abortion pills as controlled substances. They want to make sure these medications are more closely regulated. These pills are often used for medical abortions. In Louisiana, there are very strict rules about abortion. It is mostly not allowed unless it’s in very specific situations. The new bill will need more approval before it becomes law. This has caused a lot of talking between people who are against abortion, doctors, and people who fight for the right to choose.
The bill passed in the state’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Most Republicans supported it, while many others did not. If passed, people could go to jail for up to five years for having these medicines without permission. However, pregnant people who take these medicines themselves would not get in trouble. Some doctors are worried about the effects of this bill. They say these medicines are important for many reasons, not just for abortion. They are used for things like helping with labor, miscarriages, and stomach ulcers. Many doctors think this bill is based on wrong information and could make it hard to use these medicines for other important reasons.
New Louisiana Bill To Treat Abortion Pills As Controlled Substance, Imposes Strict Penalties https://t.co/cAilmvlgCX via @dailycaller by
— Gil (@Gil000006) May 22, 2024
The bill also makes it a crime to force someone to have an abortion using these medications without their agreement. Those who do this could face even more severe punishment if the pregnancy is more than three months along. The senator who introduced the bill did so because of something that happened to his sister. Her husband gave her abortion pills without her knowing. Some people, like State Rep. Mandie Landry, say this bill could make it tough for people in rural areas to get these important medicines. They are worried that it might restrict access to medications that are needed for medical reasons.
