Did you know that after a year delay women in Hawaii are now able to obtain emergency contraception from pharmacists without a prescription? 

In 2003, Governor Linda Lingle signed legislation allowing pharmacists to dispense emergency contraception (EC) directly to women without a prescription, but implementation of the law was delayed for over a year.  Although the law does not require administrative rules, Governor Lingle stipulated that the Board of Pharmacy establish them before implementing the EC pharmacy program.  As a result of this administrative tape, women were only able to access EC with a prescription until December 2004 when Governor Lingle approved the rules.

EC is one of the most promising avenues for reducing unintended pregnancies and abortion.  EC greatly reduces a woman's chance of becoming pregnancy when taken within a few days of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure.    

Mary Adamski, Governor OKs New Birth Control Pill Rules, Honolulu Star-Bull., Dec. 17, 2004; Hawaii Requires Prescription, Honolulu Advertiser, May 7, 2004; Rules for Hawaii’s EC Pharmacy Program Approved, at http://www.go2ec.org (last visited November 23, 2004).