A federal court upheld West Virginia’s abortion ban on Thursday, ruling that the state can prohibit the sale of mifepristone.
A federal court upheld West Virginia’s abortion ban on Thursday, ruling that the state can prohibit the sale of the abortion pill mifepristone despite the drug’s being deemed “safe” by the Food and Drug Administration. The ruling affirms that states have the right to regulate public health and morality.
In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers noted:
Morality-based laws often curtail the sale of goods. The vendors of curtailed goods may lose sales opportunities. Outraged, vendors can feel the laws must somehow be unconstitutional. And yet, the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals have repeatedly affirmed that morality-based product bans do not intrinsically offend the dormant Commerce Clause.FDA Approval of Mifepristone
The FDA approved mifepristone for public use in 2000.
