DUBLIN, Ohio – Cardinal Health's independent franchises Medicine Shoppe and Medicap Pharmacy announced plans to ban the sale of tobacco products from its stores. Nearly all Medicine Shoppe and Medicap Pharmacy franchises have committed to not sell tobacco and tobacco-related products.

John Fiacco, vice president of Medicine Shoppe International, said in a statement that the majority of Medicine Shoppe and Medicap Pharmacy locations have been tobacco-free for quite some time. However, when managed-care organizations began penalizing patients who utilize pharmacies that sell tobacco products with increased co-pays, the franchise system and its franchisees implemented a formal policy prohibiting sales of tobacco and tobacco-related products.

He added that removing tobacco products was a natural transition for Medicine Shoppe and Medicap Pharmacy franchisees.