Walgreens Says It Received’t Provide the Abortion Capsule Mifepristone in Conservative States

A number of weeks after Republican attorneys normal in 21 states despatched letters threatening authorized motion towards retail pharmacy chains in the event that they allotted the abortion capsule mifepristone, Walgreens stated it might not distribute the capsule in these states.

In January, after the Meals and Drug Administration stated it might permit retail pharmacies to turn out to be licensed to dispense mifepristone — the tightly regulated medicine that’s the first capsule within the two-drug medicine abortion routine — Walgreens, CVS and different pharmacies stated they deliberate to take action in states the place abortion was authorized. The American Pharmacists Affiliation stated that pharmacies can be very cautious about allotting in any state the place they could threat shedding their license or face different penalties.

The choice this week by Walgreens displays that warning. In 4 of the states — Alaska, Iowa, Kansas and Montana — abortion is technically nonetheless authorized, however there are efforts to limit it that may apply to abortion tablets.

“This can be a very complicated and in flux space of the legislation, and we’re taking that under consideration as we search certification,” stated a spokesman for Walgreens, Fraser Engerman.

He stated that Walgreens informed 20 attorneys normal, who had collectively signed one letter, and the legal professional normal of Kansas, who despatched a separate letter, that it might not be distributing mifepristone of their states.

The choice doesn’t have an effect on the second capsule within the medicine abortion routine, misoprostol, which is used for a number of medical circumstances and has lengthy been obtainable by prescription at retail pharmacies nationwide.

A spokesman for CVS didn’t instantly reply to a query about whether or not the corporate had additionally determined to not dispense mifepristone in these 21 states, however in January, a spokeswoman stated, “We plan to hunt certification to dispense mifepristone the place legally permissible.”

Politico reported the Walgreens resolution on Thursday evening. The chain’s resolution to not dispense tablets in Kansas was introduced final month.