Hawaii has become one of the first American states to embrace a deeply controversial new abortion policy, allowing women to obtain so-called “just in case” abortion pills before they are even pregnant. The scheme, introduced through a Planned Parenthood affiliate, means women can stockpile abortion drugs at home for future use without needing another medical appointment.
Supporters claim the move increases “access” and gives women greater control, particularly in rural areas where clinics may be far away—a point made redundant by the US’s normal pills-by-post laws. Under the policy, women aged 18 and over in Hawaii and Washington state can receive mifepristone and misoprostol through telehealth consultations or clinic visits before pregnancy, with the drugs remaining usable for up to two years.
