SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Gov. Gavin Newsom is delivering on his word to cut ties with Walgreens over the drugstore chain's stance on distributing abortion pills.On Wednesday, California officials announced the Golden State won't renew its $54 million contract with Walgreens because the company said it won't dispense the abortion medication, mifepristone in 20 states. "California will not stand by as corporations cave to extremists and cut off critical access to reproductive care and freedom," said Newsom. "California is on track to be the fourth-largest economy in the world, and we will leverage our market power to defend the right to choose."The contract allows the state to procure specialty prescription drugs that are primarily used by California prisons and jails.The renewal was set to take effect on May 1, 2023.
In the meantime, the state said it's exploring other options.On Monday, Newsom slammed Walgreens on social media and preemptively warned that it was severing ties with the company."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 tweeted in response to an article from CNN.Earlier this year, the FDA loosened restrictions by allowing pharmacies like Walgreens to dispense the drug mifepristone after obtaining certification.
To get certified, pharmacies must meet standards for shipping, tracking and confidentially storing prescription information."From the outset, we have made our intentions clear to become a certified pharmacy to distribute mifepristone in those jurisdictions where it is legal," said Walgreens in a statement to KTVU.Typically, the FDA’s authority to regulate prescription drug access has.