Mifepristone, which was approved by the FDA in 2000 for use in ending early term pregnancies, has been banned by Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon ahead of a federal ruling on the drug pending in a Texas court.
Mr. Gordon signed the bill March 17, which forbids the sale of mifepristone and other abortion drugs across the state. Thirteen states already ban abortion pills outright, and 15 additional states have several restrictions on obtaining them, according to NPR.
"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall be unlawful to prescribe, dispense, distribute, sell or use any drug for the purpose of procuring or performing an abortion on any person," the bill reads. It does allow for exceptions in certain cases, such as when a pregnancy endangers the life of the mother."
Mr. Gordon also allowed a bill that bans all abortion to go into law without his signature, expressing concern that the law will be subject to legal challenges. A March 17 press release from the governor's office explains that if "the Legislature wants to expressly address how the Wyoming Constitution treats abortion and defines healthcare, then those issues should be vetted through the amendment process laid out in Article 20 of the Wyoming Constitution and voted on directly by the people."
Although appeals could delay the bill taking effect, as of now, the law banning medical abortions is set to go into effect in July.