In San Francisco Superior Court today, attorneys for chain pharmacy Walgreens will ask a judge for an emergency injunction barring San Francisco's new rules on tobacco sales from taking effect, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The ordinance would ban tobacco sales in pharmacies but would not regulate tobacco sales in grocery stores or big-box stores that include pharmacies. The law is scheduled to take effect Oct. 1.
Walgreens spokesperson Tiffani Bruce said the company's "position is based solely on being fair across different types of retailers."
San Francisco supervisors approved the measure in July, making the city the first in the nation to ban tobacco sales in pharmacies (Knight, San Francisco Chronicle [1], 9/9).
Proposed Antismoking Rules
In related news, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote today on a measure that would ban smoking in many public spaces, including the common areas of apartment buildings, condos and residential hotels, the Chronicle reports.
In response to criticism, Supervisor Chris Daly, who is sponsoring the legislation, is adding a provision to the measure aimed at limiting the possibility of landlords evicting residents for smoking (Knight, San Francisco Chronicle [2], 9/9).