Little Rock, Ark (KATV) – Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders formally signed the law on Senate Bill 189, granting approval to sell and purchase ivermectin for human use without a prescription.
A new law signed into law Tuesday will allow Arkansas to sell ivermectin, suitable for human consumption, over-the-counter stores, allowing individuals to access it without the need for prescriptions or consultations with medical professionals.
The Act explicitly states that “ivermectin, suitable for human use, can be sold or purchased over-the-counter medication in this state without prescription or consultation with a medical professional.” This development shows a significant change in the state’s attitude towards drugs that are only available through physician prescriptions.
Ivermectin, a drug used primarily to treat intestinal parasites in both animals and humans, attracted the public’s attention during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings against the use of ivermectin as an unapproved treatment for Covid-19, but has gained traction among vaccine opponents as an alternative treatment for the height of the pandemic.
Although human use is generally reserved for certain conditions, it is widely administered to horses and other livestock to treat parasitic infections.
The new law will allow ivermectin to be purchased without the supervision of a medical professional.
The measure will take effect 90 days after the Arkansas Legislature was postponed and set the stage for broader accessibility to drugs.
This change is expected to have a major impact on how medicines are accessed and used in the state, especially among those who view it as a viable treatment option despite the ongoing controversy over the safety and efficacy of Covid-19.
Brock Thompson, who first proposed the bill to Senator Alan Clark, said this about passing the bill.
I’m pleased that Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed SB189 to give people the choice to use old medicines for themselves. I have found new lives over the past few years, and this will help me continue the conversation about medical freedom. We don’t know what the future of human drugs will be, but for me we examine demonized doctors to use it.
Senator Alan Clark also expressed his excitement about the bill. “I’m pleased that people brought me a good idea. The governor signed it, the Congress enthusiastically embraced it with a bipartisan vote.”
