Amazon and Some Drug Stores Ration Emergency Contraceptives, Including Plan B, After Seeing Increased Demand

Amazon and some drug store chains are beginning to ration purchases of emergency contraception after seeing a significant increase in purchases of the birth control in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

An Amazon representative told CNN on Tuesday they had put in place a temporary quantity limit of three units per week, per customer, on emergency contraceptive pills, including Plan B.

Rite Aid is also limiting customers buying emergency contraception to three units. Anyone who tries to buy more than three units online receives a message that states "The requested qty (quantity) exceeds the maximum qty allowed in shopping cart." 

CVS temporarily limited purchases of two main emergency contraception brands, Plan B and Aftera, but one day later removed the purchase limits. A spokesperson for the company told CNN sales they chose to remove the purchase limits since sales had since stabilized. 

Limiting emergency contraception purchases comes after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on June 24. Following the ruling, several states enacted trigger laws to effectively ban abortions.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, emergency contraception lowers the chance of pregnancy following unprotected sex or birth control failure. It can also be used after someone has been raped.

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