Birth control without prescriptions, coming soon to California under new law

A new California law will allow women to buy birth control at their local pharmacy without a prescription. Once the law—passed in 2013—gains regulatory approval, California will be the third state to permit pharmacist-issued birth control, joining Washington and Oregon. Hawaii, New Mexico, and Alaska are all expected to follow suit. Under the California law, pharmacists can dispense self-administered hormonal contraception, which includes patches, pills and vaginal rings.