Costco says it won’t sell mifepristone abortion pill

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Costco’s Decision Not to Sell Abortion Pill Mifepristone

Costco has made a firm decision not to sell the abortion pill mifepristone at its pharmacy locations. The shopping club cited a “lack of demand from our members and other patients” as the primary reason behind this choice.

In a statement to CBS News, Costco explained, “They generally have the drug dispensed by their medical providers.” This stance aligns with Costco’s strategy of catering to the needs of its customer base.

The news of Costco’s refusal to stock mifepristone was initially reported by Bloomberg and received praise from the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative religious coalition that advocates against abortion. ADF’s legal counsel, Michael Ross, commended Costco for prioritizing the interests of its shareholders and resisting pressure to sell abortion drugs.

Mifepristone, which was FDA-approved in 2000, is commonly used in conjunction with misoprostol to terminate pregnancies up to 10 weeks. According to research from the Guttmacher Institute, mifepristone is utilized in over half of all abortions in the United States.

Author: Megan Cerullo

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending, and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.