CVS President, Who Halted Tobacco Sales, Will be a State of the Union Guest

CVS President and CEO Larry Merlo, who announced earlier this year the company was halting tobacco sales, will be a guest of First Lady Michelle Obama at tonight’s State of the Union address.

CVS President and CEO Larry Merlo, who announced earlier this year the company was halting tobacco sales, will be a guest of First Lady Michelle Obama at tonight’s State of the Union address. The White House cited the tobacco decision in its announcement about Merlo’s invitation, the Providence Journal reports. Merlo’s father died of tobacco-related cancer at age 57.

The White House noted CVS was the first major retail pharmacy to stop selling tobacco in all of its stores, in September 2014. The company announced last February it would stop selling tobacco products because the sales conflicted with its healthcare mission. The company changed its name to CVS Health. Retail stores continue to be called CVS/Pharmacy. The company is the second-largest drugstore chain, behind Walgreens.

CVS launched a smoking-cessation campaign to coincide with the halt in tobacco sales.