After nearly a decade, pharmacies required to dispense emergency contraceptives

The US Supreme Court has refused to hear a case challenging a Washington State rule that all pharmacies must fill lawful prescriptions, including Plan B or other emergency contraceptives.

After nearly 10 years, the state can now begin enforcing this rule, which has been on hold since the Board of Pharmacy, now the Pharmacy Commission, adopted it in 2007.

The rule was challenged by an Olympia-based pharmacy and two pharmacists who refused to fill valid prescriptions for emergency contraceptives Plan B and ella, based on their religious beliefs.

After years of injunctions and appeals in the court system, a unanimous 2015 ruling from of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the pharmacy rule as constitutional, but the plaintiffs petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for review.

With the US Supreme Court's refusal to review Stormans v. Wiesman, the rule can now be enforced.

After 9 years in court, a victory for abortion rights advocates in Washington
State. https://t.co/idFrxk9uYS
— Essex J. Porter (@EssexKIRO7) June 28, 2016