Possessing common abortion medications like mifepristone and misoprostol without a valid prescription in the state can carry up to 10 years in prison and $5,000 in fines|Robin Marty|CC BY 2.0
Louisiana recently became the first state to criminalize abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol by classifying them as controlled substances, which include addictive opioids and antidepressants.
The law makes it a crime to carry these abortion medications without a valid prescription, punishable by one to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000.
The law makes it risky for people to bring these pills from other states or order them online. Doctors and clinics need special licenses to carry these medications, making it harder to treat other medical conditions, like inducing labor or treating ulcers.
Legal challenges to the rule are expected. Over 200 doctors already opposed the law in its bill stage.