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Walgreens confirmed on March 2 that it will not distribute abortion pills in numerous states—including to some states where abortion is legal—after Republican attorneys general (AG) in 21 states told the company that it risked breaking federal law should it do so, Politico first reported.
Walgreens, the second-largest pharmacy chain in the United States, made the decision after receiving a letter from Republican Missouri AG Andrew Bailey on Feb. 1,
Other than Missouri, attorneys general from 19 other Republican-led states—Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia—also signed the letter.
Kansas AG Kris Kobach sent his own letter to Walgreens five days later.
Bailey’s letter specifically addressed the states’ opposition to Walgreen’s intent to participate in the growing abortion pills by mail business practice that expands abortion access nationwide.
Walgreens told Politico that it has responded to “all the officials” in writing, “assuring them that they will not dispense abortion pills either by mail or at their brick-and-mortar locations in those states,” even though the letter only took issue with the pills’ distribution through the mail.
In its response letter to each of the states, Walgreens emphasized that it is not yet dispensing the abortion pill, called mifepristone, “in any of its locations.” However, it still intends to become a “certified pharmacy” under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) program and, in fact, is “working through the certification process.”
“While Walgreens has publicly expressed its intent [to become a certified pharmacy] … the company has made clear that it would do so consistent with all applicable laws and as a result would not be able to dispense Mifepristone in all locations,” Walgreens wrote.
The pharmacy chain went on to say that it will not “dispense Mifepristone within your state” or “ship Mifepristone into your state from any of our pharmacies.
