Mississippi lawmakers have passed a bill that bans the shipping and dispensing of abortion-inducing drugs under a broader anti-drug trafficking law. The measure, introduced by Republican Rep. Celeste Hurst in February, aims to prevent the distribution of these drugs without medical oversight, according to the bill’s language.
The legislation states that it is unlawful for anyone to knowingly create, sell, transfer, or possess an abortion-inducing drug with intent to terminate a pregnancy. It defines these drugs as substances prescribed or dispensed to cause the death of an unborn child, with exceptions provided by state law.
Hurst, who proposed the amendment, said her goal was to protect women from harm by preventing the drugs from being shipped into Mississippi without proper medical supervision. She emphasized that the measure does not target medications like Plan B, which are used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.
Democrats opposed the bill, arguing it could negatively impact women’s health and calling it unnecessary. Violators could face imprisonment for one to 10 years, and the attorney general could pursue civil action to enforce the law and seek penalties, according to the legislation.
The bill now awaits the governor’s signature. Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican known for his strong pro-life stance, is expected to sign the legislation into law. Mississippi’s current abortion ban, enacted after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, includes exceptions for the mother’s life and cases of rape or incest reported to authorities.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
