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Walgreens to Halt Distribution of Abortion Medication in 20 States Amid Legal Battles and Lawmaker Pressure

ByAlki David

Mar 4, 2023

Pharmacy giant Walgreens has announced that it will no longer distribute abortion medication in 20 states across the country. This decision comes after intense pressure from lawmakers and legal battles over the legality of medication abortions. Specifically, the company will not be dispensing mifepristone, which is the first of two drugs used in the medication abortion process. This move follows a letter sent by GOP attorneys general in the affected states on February 1st.

In a statement released by Walgreens, the company explained that it plans to remain a certified pharmacy and will only distribute mifepristone in jurisdictions where it is both legal and feasible to do so. This announcement has been met with support from anti-abortion advocates who see it as a step towards protecting the sanctity of life.

On the other hand, pro-choice activists have criticized Walgreens’ decision, saying that it will limit access to safe and legal abortions for women in these 20 states. They argue that medication abortions are a safe and effective way for women to terminate a pregnancy, particularly in states where access to abortion clinics is limited.

Despite these concerns, Walgreens has stated that its decision is based solely on legal and operational considerations. The company’s move highlights the ongoing debate surrounding abortion rights in the United States and the role of private companies in providing healthcare services.

This decision by Walgreens is also expected to have a ripple effect across the industry, potentially leading other pharmacies to re-evaluate their policies around distributing abortion medication. As the debate over abortion rights continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how private companies will navigate this contentious issue while balancing their legal obligations and corporate values.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.