California Governor Gavin Newsom is ready to cut ties with Walgreens after they decided to stop distributing abortion medication in 20 states.
The retail pharmaceutical company made the announcement last week that it would no longer provide mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in medicated abortion. It is typically used in conjunction with misoprostol to terminate a pregnancy that is no more than 70 days along, per the Mayo Clinic. To honor abortion laws in several Republican states, Walgreens will no longer offer the drug in those areas. Instead, they’ve pledged to only provide this vital medication “in those jurisdictions where it is legal and operationally feasible.” The decision came after attorney generals in those states threatened Walgreens if they continued to offer the drug in states that didn’t allow abortions.
California won't be doing business with @walgreens — or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk.
We're done.https://t.co/OB10cYfm8H
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 6, 2023
Newsom, a Democratic who has continuously supported women’s rights to abortions, is not pleased with the company’s decision to deny this potentially life-saving medicine. After the Supreme Court’s decision overturned Roe v. Wade, Newsom vowed to make California a safe haven for residents and anyone who needed to visit the state to receive the procedure. In November, voters approved a ballot making access to abortion and contraception a permanent statute in the state constitution.
“California won’t be doing business with Walgreens or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women’s lives at risk. We’re done,” Newsom confirmed in a tweet on Monday.
It’s unclear how Newsome will go about getting rid of Walgreens in California. The company has not responded publicly to this latest development.
