California Gov. Gavin Newsom successfully canceled last year’s recall attempt in California. When asked if he was preparing to run for president, Newsom replied that he was not.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday said the state would no longer do business with walgreensafter a pharmacy chain told 21 Republican attorneys general that it would not sell abortion pills in their states.
Newsom tweeted that the state had “finished business” with Walgreens. Brandon Richards, a spokesman for the governor, said California is reviewing all relationships between Walgreens and the state.
“We will not do business with companies that give in to right-wing hooligans who promote their extremist agendas or companies that put politics ahead of the health of women and girls,” Richards said.
Walgreens said it plans to sell mifepristone “in any jurisdiction where it is permitted by law,” the statement said. “Once we receive FDA clearance, we will market this drug in accordance with federal and state laws,” the company added.
The Food and Drug Administration in January allowed retail pharmacies to sell mifepristone abortion pills if they are certified under the agency’s program that controls the drug’s use and distribution.
Walgreens plans to become certified to sell mifepristone where permitted by state and federal law. the company said. In February, 21 Republican Attorney Generals warned Walgreens against mailing mifepristone in its states.
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The company told the attorney general that it would not sell or ship the pills in its states. This was first reported by Politico.
Mifepristone, used in combination with another drug called misoprostol, is the most common abortion method in the US, accounting for about half of all abortions.
Mifepristone became the center of the fight to make abortion affordable after the Supreme Court ruling overturned the Roe v. UK case. Wade last June.
A group of anti-abortion doctors filed a lawsuit in Texas federal court.withdraw FDA approval of mifepristone. On the other hand, Democratic attorneys general have asked a federal court in Washington to declare the remaining FDA restrictions on mifepristone unconstitutional.
The FDA approved mifepristone over two decades ago, but the agency has imposed restrictions to ensure the pills are safe to use. The agency has gradually loosened these restrictions over the years as new evidence of its safety and effectiveness comes in.
The agency has lifted the requirement for patients to receive the pills in person at certain healthcare facilities and has allowed medications to be mailed. Patients still need a prescription from an FDA-certified healthcare provider.