Ad campaign touting availability of abortion pills along Pinellas beaches

Mayday.Health’s abortion pill boat tour is cruising along two coastal routes in St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach throughout August with a simple message: “MIFEPRISTONE AND MISOPROSTOL” — the two FDA-approved medications used in medication abortion. Nevertheless, an abortion pill advocacy group is spreading the messages via floating digital boat advertisements across some of the Tampa Bay area’s most prominent beaches this month — even though Florida abortion laws ban abortion pills from being sent in the mail.

The Campaign Message and Objective

“In a state like Florida, where abortion access has been significantly restricted, many people still don’t know these options exist,” said Tamara Stein, deputy director of Mayday.Health, a health-education nonprofit. Regarding the strategy, Stein added: “Our campaign is designed to spark curiosity, prompt people to search for information, and ultimately empower them to make informed decisions. It’s bold, it’s visible, and it cuts through the noise.”

Bree Wallace, director for case management with the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund, says self-managed abortions with pills are becoming more popular because of websites like Mayday.Health, as well as PlanCPills.org and Aid Access. “Many Floridians and people in other states with abortion bans use websites like Mayday or other trusted resources to find information about accessing pills on their own,” Wallace said.

Legal Restrictions and Risks in Florida

The campaign asserts that abortion pills are safe, FDA-approved, and accessible by mail in Florida. However, the third assertion runs up against the plain text of Florida law and puts the provider and the patient at risk of felony penalties. Florida law forbids the use of telehealth to perform or induce an abortion, with criminal sanctions possible.

According to the regulations, abortion medication in Florida must be ordered by a physician and dispensed in person at a clinic or doctor’s office. State statute reads: “Any medications intended for use in a medical abortion must be dispensed in person by a physician and may not be dispensed through the United States Postal Service or by any other courier or shipping service.”

Potential Felony Penalties

Those legal risks include breaking Florida law and facing criminal sanctions. Any person who willfully performs, or actively participates in, a termination of pregnancy commits a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Tallahassee attorney Julie Gallagher said that means the physician and the patient are breaking the law if they either order or receive the pills in the mail. Gallagher noted: “I would say the pills are safe, but it’s not legal to get them through the mail in Florida. You have to go to a clinic and you have to get the doctor to dispense directly to you.”

Key Data on Abortion Access and Shield Laws

Whether it’s through floating advertisements on Florida beaches or through other routes, the message is being received. A study conducted by #WeCount, a Society of Family Planning project, shows that 13,380 abortions in Florida were provided to pregnant patients under shield laws in 2024. These are legal protections put in place by some states to reduce legal risk for clinicians who offer abortion to states where abortion is prohibited or severely restricted.

Statistical Summary based on Project Reports:

• Total abortions in Florida via shield laws (2024): 13,380
• Expected monthly packages from The MAP: 2,500 (with over half going to TX, GA, and FL)
• Legal Classification of mail-order violation: Third-degree felony
• Maximum Penalties: 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine
• Campaign Locations: St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach

Bree Wallace stresses: “It’s important that individuals assess their legal risks and utilize trusted helplines to learn more about potential legal risks that can come with that — but it’s very medically safe.”