Walgreen Co. (WAG) has sued San Francisco for banning the sales of tobacco products in pharmacies. WAG, the largest drug store chain in the US, has sought a preliminary injunction against the law which prohibits them to sell tobacco in their pharmacies from 1 Oct.

According to the law, any pharmacy is prohibited from selling tobacco products. The suit states, Walgreen "shares San Francisco's goal of reducing smoking," but it argues that the law wouldn't reduce the amount of tobacco products sold in the city. "Instead, it merely prohibits some pharmacies from selling tobacco products."

Tobacco has been the leading cause of preventable death in the US. So, the city authorities imposed the ban that prohibits pharmacies to sell such products. However, Walgreen Co. attorneys feel that the lawsuit ordinance is "anti-competitive and unconstitutional, only prohibiting tobacco product sales at some pharmacies, but not others, favoring some retail establishments that have pharmacies but not others."

The city's written response to the lawsuit is due Sept. 18 and the company will have to file a reply by Sept. 24. 30 Sept has been decided as the date of hearing by Superior Court Judge Peter Busch.