The deal was reached through multistate negotiations led by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Illinois and Oregon, according to the California Department of Justice. Albertsons operates pharmacies in California through subsidiaries including Safeway and Vons.
"This agreement is part of our ongoing fight to bring help and healing to communities harmed by the opioid crisis," Bonta said. "The California Department of Justice has worked closely with our coalition partners to hold corporate actors accountable for fueling this public health crisis. We will continue to address the epidemic from all angles and support individuals and families affected by it."
The announcement states that while the parties have agreed on the total potential payment to eligible state and local governments, "important negotiations remain." Those include injunctive relief measures that would govern Albertsons' future opioid dispensing practices.
According to the announcement, the agreement-in-principle status means the parties must still finalize operational restrictions, compliance monitoring and other non-monetary relief. The timeline for completing those remaining negotiations was not disclosed.