California state governor Gavin Newsom on Monday announced that the state will not do business with Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc over its decision not to dispense abortion pills.
California won't be doing business with any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk, said Newsom in his tweet.
Walgreens on Friday had said that it will not distribute abortion medication in 20 states bowing to pressure from anti-abortion lawmakers targeting them.
All relationships between Walgreens and the state were under review, said a spokesperson for the governor.
The company last week said that it will not dispense mifepristone, the first of the two drugs in the medication abortion process, in 20 states, reported CNN.
"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.
"Once we are certified by FDA, we will dispense this medication consistent with federal and state laws," it stated.
The US Food and Drug Administration in January allowed retail pharamacies to sell abortion pill mifepristone, including by mail, provided they were certified under special safety rules for the drug, reported Reuters.
In February, group of attorneys general had sent a letter to CVS and Walgreens warning that if they sold mifepristone, it would be in violation of the Comstock Act, 1873 that makes it illegal to send contraceptives, substances that induce abortion and so on.
States including Alaska, Iowa, Kansas and Montana have signed the letter.
"California must do everything it can to protect the fundamental rights of all women...California will continue to be a safe haven for all women seeking reproductive healthcare services in our state," Newsom had said.
