Maryland to stockpile abortion drug amid court battle over FDA approval

BALTIMORE — Maryland officers mentioned the state will stockpile the abortion capsule Mifepristone after guidelines tightened across the drug amid a federal court docket dispute over federal approval of the drug. 

A federal choose in Texas dominated final Friday to droop the united statesFood and Drug Administration’s approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, a part of a two-drug medical therapy. 

The controversial resolution by a federal district court docket to dam entry to the capsule which has been available on the market for 23 years would have taken impact on Friday.  

On Wednesday night time, a federal appeals court docket preserved entry to an abortion drug for now, however beneath tighter guidelines that might enable the drug solely to be allotted as much as seven weeks, not 10, and never by mail.  

The choice comes lower than a 12 months after the U.S. Supreme Court docket’s reversal of Roe v. Wade.

The case is prompting Maryland lawmakers to develop a plan. The Moore administration advised WJZ they’re working with the state’s Division of Well being to discover choices.

Gov. Wes Moore mentioned in a press release he “will proceed to do every little thing in his energy to make sure that Maryland stays a secure haven for abortion and reproductive well being care entry, together with entry to mifepristone.”

Maryland is certainly one of almost two dozen states the place abortion is protected and authorized till fetal viability. The state’s abortion care entry act handed in 2022, a legislation acknowledged as one of many strongest abortion rights within the nation.

Now Maryland leaders are working to make sure they’re ready.

The final meeting handed a poll query this week to enshrine abortion rights within the state structure, as soon as signed by the governor, the referendum will seem within the 2024 normal election.