Abortion in the United States: Possession of abortion pills in Louisiana without a prescription would be punishable by prison sentences and fines

The text, passed by the Louisiana Senate and House, classifies abortion pills as dangerous substances, a first in the country (photo illustration). Hendrik Schmidt – dpa/MAXPPP

Elected officials in the conservative state of Louisiana, in the southern United States, on Thursday definitively approved a bill criminalizing the possession of abortion pills without a prescription.

The text, passed by the Louisiana Senate and House, classifies abortion pills as dangerous substances, a first in the country. It is expected to be signed into law by Republican Governor Jeff Landry.

US President Joe Biden called the decision "scandalous", adding that "It’s a scary time for women across America".

Mifepristone and misoprostol

"If Donald Trump returns to power, he will try to turn what is happening in states like Louisiana into a national reality’ quot;, castigated the president, while abortion is one of the key themes of the campaign for the presidential election in November, which will pit Democratic President Joe Biden against his Republican rival Donald Trump.

The bill puts mifepristone and misoprostol, widely used for abortion, on the same level as Valium and Xanax.

Being in possession of these pills without having a prescription would be punishable by prison sentences and several thousand dollars in fines.

Decision by end of June

Licensed doctors would be exempt from prosecution, as would pregnant women if they possessed the drug for their own use.

Vice President Kamala Harris called the legislation “unconscionable” on Tuesday.< /p>

"Let's be clear: it’s because of Donald Trump", she also had added. The former president was the architect of the Supreme Court's reversal on abortion in 2022, following which many states banned or restricted the right to abortion.

Louisiana thus bans almost all abortions.

The Supreme Court examined a case related to mifepristone in March, and most of its judges seemed resistant to reinstating restrictions on access to this pill. A decision is expected by the end of June.