2 Minnesota pharmacists sue state, Walgreens over religious objections

2 pharmacists sue over religious objections to dispensing specific drugs

A pair of Minnesota pharmacists is suing the state and Walgreens, claiming they were punished for declining to dispense drugs that cause abortions or facilitate gender transition.

The lawsuit, filed by the Upper Midwest Law Center, says that both pharmacists have deep religious objections to dispensing those types of prescriptions and had colleagues fill them for years. However, they claims that Walgreens recently told them that the religious accommodations violated Minnesota law.

Walgreens subsequently fired one of the pharmacists and “sharply reduced” the other’s hours, according to the filing.

The Minnesota Board of Pharmacy administers these types of administrative rules, which Walgreens relied on, the lawsuit states.

The pharmacists are seeking to have the court force Minnesota to account for “conscientious objections, professional judgment and practical considerations” in its laws, claiming it currently violates both state and federal free exercise protections.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to both the Board of Pharmacy and Walgreens. The latter declined to comment on pending litigation while the Board hasn’t yet responded.
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