By Michael Elkins
California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted on Monday that the west coast state would not do business with Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ:WBA) after the pharmacy chain said that it will not dispense abortion pills in some Republican states.
The company said it will not dispense mifepristone, the first of two drugs in the medication abortion process, in 20 states following a February 1 letter from GOP attorneys general in those states.
“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
“We intend to be a certified pharmacy and will distribute Mifepristone only in those jurisdictions where it is legal and operationally feasible,” the company said in a statement on Friday.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January allowed retail pharmacies to sell abortion pill mifepristone, including by mail, provided they were certified under special safety rules for the drug.
Shares of WBA are down 1.88% near end-of-day trading on Monday.