Major Pharmacy Will No Longer Carry Tobacco Products

The first major pharmacy will no longer carry tobacco products as of October 1st, 2014. Last month, CVS announced that the chain of more than 7,600 stores will no longer sell cigarettes or chewing tobacco, making it the first national retailer to stop selling such products, according to the New York Times.

In the wake if CVS’ announcement, attorneys general of 28 states and territories, led by Eric Schneiderman, Attorney General for New York, and Mike DeWine, Attorney General for Ohio, are encouraging other major retailers to follow suit. The attorneys general sent letters to:

• Rite Aid
• Walgreens
• Kroger
• Safeway
• Walmart

As of now, no other major health care retailer has stated it will follow CVS' lead, according to the article.

“There is a contradiction in having these dangerous and devastating tobacco products on the shelves of a retail chain that services health care needs,” the letters said.

 “Pharmacies and drug stores, which increasingly market themselves as a source for community health care, send a mixed message by continuing to sell deadly tobacco products,” Schneiderman said in a statement. “The fact that these stores profit from the sale of cigarettes and tobacco must take a backseat to the health of New Yorkers and customers across the country. I urge these companies to do the right thing and remove tobacco products from store shelves.”

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