Literally two hours before the City Council voted to legalize storefront marijuana sales in Manteca, they approved being part of a national $26 billion opioid settlement.

The consent agenda vote Tuesday went unnoticed by the 27 Manteca residents that spoke out against allowing retail marijuana sales in the city. Most of the speakers addressed concerns that while the state has legalized the adult use of marijuana by allowing it to be sold in brick and mortar facilities in Manteca the city would essentially be enticing more people to use cannabis and benefit financially from them doing so.

And while it is clear marijuana is not addictive to everyone that uses it, the speakers pointed to cases where it was creating serious issues and — in various instances — prompted users to try more “serious” drugs such as opioids.

The 3-2 council vote to allow retail pot sales — made possible by affirmative votes by Mayor Ben Cantu as well as council members Gary Singh and Charlie Halford while Dave Breitenbucher and Jose Nuno dissented — is expected to capture sales tax that is spent elsewhere such as in Modesto to help the city pay for day-to-day municipal services.

No one on the council — or from the audience — asked that the agenda item regarding the opioid settlement be discussed and voted separately from a blanket yes or no vote on the entire consent calendar. That is why there was no public mention of the settlement.

The council’s action assures the city will receive some funds over an 18-year period from the settlement of litigation brought by states and cities against the nation’s three largest pharmaceutical distributors — McKesson, Cardinal Health, and Amerisorce Bergen along with opioid manufacturer Janssen that is owned by Johnson & Johnson.

By opting into the settlement, the city must release claims it has against the opioid distributors and manufacturers. In exchange the city will use funds that can be used to combat opioid abuse within Manteca as well as for other purposes.

The city will have the option of receiving funds it will be allocated directly if they so choose. If not the city’s share will go to San Joaquin County. If the city had not opted in the funds they would have received would have gone to the state instead.

The litigation was started after cities, counties, and states were being crushed with expenses related to the fallout from opioid addiction.

California will receive between $2.269 billion and $2.34 billion. The state will devise a way to distribute the funds that will determine what Manteca will receive.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com