Mississippi bans abortion-inducing drugs amid ‘continuing threat’ of mail-order abortion

Mississippi has banned the prescription and distribution of abortion-inducing drugs, one of the most common methods used to terminate a pregnancy in the United States, even in states with strong laws restricting abortion. 

Mississippi’s Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed House Bill 1613 into law last week. The bill ammends the states drug trafficking laws to make it illegal to sell, prescribe or distribute an “abortion-inducing drug,” which is defined as “a medicine, drug or any other substance prescribed or dispensed with the intent of terminating the clinically diagnosable pregnancy of a woman to cause the death of the unborn child.”

Reeves’ approval of the measure follows its passage in the Republican-controlled State House of Representatives in a 77-39 vote and the Republican-controlled State Senate in a 36-14 vote.

Support for the legislation fell largely along party lines, with all opposition coming from Democrats and most support coming from Republicans. Two House Democrats and three Senate Democrats broke from their party to back the bill.

The legislation does not apply to the prescription of drugs for “the treatment of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, fetal demise, induction of labor, and management of postpartum complications.”

Violators of the law, which is slated to take effect on July 1, will face a prison sentence ranging from one to 10 years. The measure also authorizes the Mississippi attorney general to bring civil action against anyone who violates the law, which could result in “declaratory or injunctive relief” as well as “civil penalties and costs.”

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