Costco won't stock abortion pill mifepristone citing weak demand

Costco Wholesale Corp. said it will not stock the abortion pill mifepristone at its more than 500 U.S. pharmacies, citing a lack of demand from its members and patients. The decision, announced as a refusal to begin dispensing the medication, follows a year-long campaign by conservative religious groups that urged retailers to avoid selling the drug. The stance places Costco alongside a growing debate over access to medication abortion in a nation still navigating competing state laws, regulatory changes, and evolving health-care delivery models.

Costco described its position as unchanged and rooted in customer demand, noting that most patients obtain the drug through their medical providers. The company did not comment on whether activists influenced the decision. The push to curb mifepristone access has been led by a coalition of faith-based investors and conservative legal groups, which have been active in urging retailers to resist offering the medication. The campaign has previously targeted other big chains, including Kroger, Walmart, and Albertsons, with mixed results.

At the same time, major national pharmacies that do dispense mifepristone in states where abortion...