Walgreens will not sell the abortion pill in any state in which Republican representatives have threatened to take legal actionin some areas where abortion is legal and accessible. The pharmacy chain stated in a statement sent to NPR the day before that it was continuing to take steps to market the medication in “jurisdictions that are legally and functionally feasible.”
The decision came just one month after the 20 Republican states attorneys general most of them in states that have abortion prohibited or severely restrained, sent letters that threatened Walgreens as well as other pharmacy chains with legal action should they sold the abortion pill mifepristone.
The Food and Drug Administration approved a new rule in January which allows pharmacies that sell to the public to be certified to sell the medication, and several companies like Walgreens and CVS stated that they’re submitting applications for the certification. Medication abortion, not surgical abortion is by far the most commonly used method to end pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester the time when most abortions take place.
“At this point we are working on the certification procedure” and have not yet distributed the drug in any way, Walgreens said in an email to Kansas Attorney General of Kansas in the month of June. “Walgreens will not distribute Mifepristone within the state of Kansas.”
The company announced in an announcement in a statement to NPR that it had responded to all attorneys general in order to assure them they won’t be distributing mifepristone in their states.
Mifepristone, which is utilized to prevent miscarriages and miscarriages. It’s legal in a few states that Walgreens do not offer it, such as Alaska, Iowa, Kansas and Montana. This situation highlights how difficult it is to get an abortion, even in states where it is legal.
The other pharmacies that Republican attorneys general addressed their letters, including CVS, Costco, Walmart, Rite Aid, Albertsons and Kroger were unable to instantly respond to the request of NPR to comment on whether they’re considering taking the same approach.
For more than two decades only specialist clinics and offices could sell the drug mifepristone. A FDA ruling that was made in November 2021 permanently permitted medical professionals to prescribe the drug through online appointments and then distribute the drug via mail.
An ongoing legal case before a federal judge appointed by Trump in Texas is seeking to overturn the FDA’s original approval of Mifepristone entirely.
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