[JURIST] US mega-retailer Wal-Mart [corporate website; JURIST news archive] announced [press release] Friday that it will stock the emergency contraceptive pill known as Plan B [product website] in all of its pharmacies nationwide beginning March 20. Previously the chain had only stocked the pills in its pharmacies in Illinois, as required by law, and in Massachusetts following an order by the Massachusetts Pharmacy Board [official website] in February. On Thursday Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said his state would no longer cover prescriptions at Wal-Mart for its 188,000 employees and retired workers unless Wal-Mart changed its policy.

Wal-Mart says that it will still allow any sales associate uncomfortable dispensing the prescription to "refer consumers to another pharmacist or pharmacy." Some conservatives say the product encourages unsafe sexual behavior, or regard it as an abortifacient. AP has more.