The American Society for Pharmacy Law (ASPL) is an organization of attorneys, pharmacists, pharmacist-attorneys and students of pharmacy or law who are interested in the law as it applies to pharmacy, pharmacists, wholesalers, manufacturers, state and federal government and other interested parties.

ASPL is a non-profit which encourages diversity & inclusion with the Society, regardless of differing backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, orientations, origins, and practice settings. The Society embraces participation and diversity as it leads to advancing our purpose: 

  • Furthering knowledge in the law related to pharmacists, pharmacies, the provision of pharmaceutical care, the manufacturing and distribution of drugs, and other food, drug, and medical device policy issues;
  • Communicating accurate legal educational information; and
  • Providing educational opportunities for pharmacists, attorneys, and others who are interested in pharmacy law

Latest News

March 21, 2023

MIFEPRISTONE

What might be the impact on California of Governor Newsom’s pledge to discontinue business with Walgreens?
In the wake of adverse publicity arising from Walgreens’ asseverations to 21 Republican state attorneys general that it would not violate the Comstock Act by mailing mifepristone to their states – which many have interpreted to mean that the company would not dispense from their pharmacies mifepristone where it was legal to do so – California’s governor has promised to discontinue doing business with Walgreens. A commentary in a bulletin from the American Health Law Association asks what this means for California.

Walgreens comprises about 10% of the retail pharmacy market in California, and is a 17% owner of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp., which provided about $52 million worth of drugs for state agencies in 2022.

About 80% of Medi-Cal patients live within 5 miles of a Walgreens outlet, and Blue Shield of California is a Medi-Cal provider that contracts with Walgreens for pharmaceutical benefits. What would “disentanglement” mean for access to prescriptions for Medi-Cal patients? Would patients with diabetes be prevented from using Walgreens as their source of California’s generic insulin?

Walgreens also has relationships with the School of Pharmacy at UCSF, where it participates in the faculty’s research into health outcomes related to HIV and specialty pharmacy services, vaccinations, access to care, adherence and clinical outcomes, digital health and member engagement, and health care costs. Walgreens also collaborates with the Scripps Translational Science Institute – will Newsom’s pledge affect these relationships?

Of course, as the author notes, discontinuation could adversely affect Walgreens’ earnings, and cause significant financial harm. Not considered by the author, however, is the cost to the state if the decision results in significant litigation. [Evans VB. What will California Gov. Gavin Newsom give up by cutting ties with Walgreens? AHLA Bulletin, 2023 Mar 16; https://bit.ly/3yXd8N6]