Costco Wholesale Corporation has decided not to carry the abortion drug mifepristone at its pharmacies.
The company hasn’t provided a detailed explanation for this choice, but it indicated to sources like Reuters that the move is partly due to low demand, as most patients obtain medications from healthcare providers.
This decision has garnered positive reactions from some religious organizations and anti-abortion advocates, as first reported by Bloomberg.
“I commend Costco for making a decision that supports their shareholders and resisting pressures from activists to sell abortion-related drugs,” stated Michael Ross, an attorney with the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
Ross further commented, “Retailers like Costco thrive on repeat purchases from families, large and small. They lack the safety net that an abortion clinic has, so they risk a lot.”
Emily Erin Davis from Susan B. Anthony Prolife America also expressed approval, noting that this move sends a strong message that wholesalers won’t engage in promoting the abortion industry’s agenda, particularly in relation to dangerous abortion pills.
In contrast, CVS and Walgreens disclosed last year that they had received certifications to distribute the drug in states where abortion is legal due to updated FDA policies.
Brad Lander, a director in New York City, has sent letters to major retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Kroger, urging them to distribute these medications, warning that failure to comply could jeopardize women’s reproductive healthcare.
As of now, those retailers have not responded to inquiries regarding their stance.
In light of the situation, conservative religious groups like ADF have circulated their own letters encouraging businesses to resist political pressures to sell abortion medications at their pharmacy locations.
“Pharmacies exist to support the health and wellbeing of our customers, but drugs like mifepristone contradict this mission and could compromise women’s health,” remarked Jeremy Tedesco, ADF’s Senior Advisor and Vice President of Corporate Engagement.
Mifepristone gained FDA approval in 2000 and is typically used in tandem with another drug, misoprostol, for medical abortions. Last year, the Supreme Court made a unanimous ruling declaring there was no legal foundation for a group of anti-abortion doctors to contest access to abortion medications.
