“French girls can now get the morning-after contraception pill for free in pharmacies, without a prescription or parental authorization,” the AP reports. “In a decree published Thursday in the Official Journal, the government said pharmacists must speak briefly with the young women before giving them the pill to make sure they are using it correctly and in the right time frame. All girls under age 18 are eligible for the free pills.”

The pill is taken within 72 hours following intercourse and prevents pregnancy by blocking the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus.

The government journal said pharmacists who distribute the pill should offer advice about regular birth control and encourage women to see a doctor regularly.

In November 2000, the French parliament voted to allow school nurses to distribute the morning-after pill in junior and senior high schools.

In a related story, reknowned poet and philosopher Boja Willy contemplates leaving protein wisdom to make a new life for himself in Paris. Willy says he’s “very interested in going into to teaching” — though he admits, “I should prolly learn some French first, huh?”

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