Walgreens bought out the Bryson City Pharmacy and they are now the only pharmacy in Swain County. Monopolies are bad for customers, opening the door for poor service and price gouging. We are petitioning the Attorney General of North Carolina to open and antitrust investigation to determine if laws against monopolies and trusts have been broken.

According to North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) 75-2.1 in the state of North Carolina, “It is unlawful for any person to monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons to monopolize, any part of trade or commerce” and NCGS 75-9 assigns the power and duty of investigation to the state’s Attorney General. [1]

We have seen CEOs of national chains bragging to investors that they were able to raise prices by blaming covid supply chain issues, reaping windfall profits.[2] In mid December, President Biden announced his administration would begin imposing fines on drug makers for price hikes in excess of inflation.[3] We know that price gouging and price fixing are real factors in today's economy. Walgreens is the defendant in price fixing lawsuits in Illinois and California.[4]

When it was announced to the customers and the public that Walgreens would buy out Bryson City Pharmacy, the owner of Bryson City Pharmacy cited rising drug costs as a cause for the sale. He told the paper that Walgreens was “almost like a monopoly.”[5]

We need an investigation to answer two questions. First, did Walgreens and Bryson City Pharmacy conspire to create a monopoly of pharmacy services in Swain County for Walgreens? Second, did Walgreens use its national market influence to push the local pharmacy out of business, creating a monopoly for Walgreens in Swain County?

We, the undersigned, petition the office of the Attorney General of North Carolina to open an antitrust investigation into the Walgreens acquisition of Bryson City Pharmacy under the authority of Chapter 75 of the General Statutes.

[1] NCGS-75 PDF: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByChapter/Chapter_75.pdf

[2] CNN - Prices are going up, and CEOs are making out like bandits: https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/28/business/ceo-pay-inflation-prices/index.html Business Insider - America's biggest companies can't stop bragging to investors about how they're charging you more: https://www.businessinsider.com/big-companies-keep-bragging-to-investors-about-price-hikes-2021-11?op=1

[3] Associated Press - Older Americans to pay less for some drug treatments as drugmakers penalized for big price jumps: https://apnews.com/article/drug-prices-biden-inflation-pharmaceuticals-efc99d020d53c48449c4725ae943c4df

[4] Legal Newsline - Class action alleges Walgreen inflates generic drug prices: https://legalnewsline.com/stories/511099723-class-action-alleges-walgreen-inflates-generic-drug-prices 

[5] Smoky Mountain Times - Bryson City Pharmacy bought out by Walgreens, closes doors: https://www.thesmokymountaintimes.com/local-news/bryson-city-pharmacy-bought-out-walgreens-closes-doors