LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has officially signed Senate Bill 189 into law, granting approval for the sale and purchase of ivermectin for human use without a prescription.
The new legislation, signed into law on Tuesday, allows ivermectin suitable for human consumption to be sold over-the-counter in Arkansas, making it accessible to individuals without the need for a prescription or consultation with a healthcare professional.
The legislation explicitly states that “ivermectin suitable for human use may be sold or purchased as an over-the-counter medication in this state without a prescription or consultation with a healthcare professional.” This development marks a notable shift in the state’s stance on the drug, which has traditionally been available only through a doctor’s prescription.
Ivermectin, a medication primarily used to treat intestinal parasitic worms in both animals and humans, gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warnings against using ivermectin as an unapproved treatment for COVID-19, it gained traction among vaccine opponents as an alternative remedy during the height of the pandemic.
While its use in humans is generally reserved for specific conditions, it has been widely administered to horses and other livestock to treat parasitic infections.
Under the new law, ivermectin will become available for purchase without the oversight of a medical professional.
The measure will take effect 90 days after the Arkansas state legislature adjourns, setting the stage for broader accessibility to the drug.
This change is expected to have a significant impact on how the medication is accessed and used in the state, particularly among those who view it as a viable treatment option despite the ongoing controversy surrounding its safety and efficacy for COVID-19.
Brock Thompson, the one who initially proposed the bill to Senator Alan Clark had this to say about the passing of the bill:
I am happy that Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed SB189 giving the people the choice to use Ivermectin an old drug for themselves. It has been finding new life over the past few years and this will help continue the conversation about medical freedoms. We don’t know what the future holds for the human drug, but to me it validates the doctors that were demonized for using it.
Senator Alan Clark also voiced his excitement for the bill. “I am glad the people brought me a good idea, the legislature embraced it enthusiastically with a bipartisan vote, the governor signed it.”