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www.newstrib.com | Monday, October 21, 2019 | 75 cents
Prayers and pot
Companies reach tentative deal to settle opioids lawsuit By Julie Carr Smyth and Geoff Mulvihill
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITERS
NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/SCOTT ANDERSON
Is your church against the coming legalization of recreational marijuana in Illinois? One entity that hasn’t laid down a formal prohibition is the United Churches of Christ. Alex Garncarz, pastor at Zion UCC in Peru, said local congregations and members are encouraged to discern for themselves. “My preference would have been that it not be legalized,” Garncarz said. “But the decision has been made.”
Most area clergy aren’t opposed to marijuana legalization, but the votes weren’t unanimous our state or to escape problems. This is contrary to what we believe about the human body and condition.”
By Tom Collins
NEWSTRIBUNE SENIOR REPORTER
The countdown is on. Another 71 days and it will be legal to smoke or otherwise ingest marijuana for recreational purposes. Springfield says it’ll be OK after Jan. 1. But what does your church think about it? The NewsTribune polled eight pastors from different denominations or Christian movements to ask how they’re advising their flocks on the ethics or morality of recreational marijuana. In no case did the pastors interviewed give their flocks a blanket OK to smoke recreationally; but some offered nuanced answers about moderation and noted the Bible offers indirect guidance, as marijuana is not directly mentioned in sacred Scripture. How does your church feel about recreational marijuana? CATHOLIC The bishop of Peoria Diocese denounced legalized cannabis in a joint statement issued while the Illinois General Assembly still was debating a legaliza-
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Editor’s Note: This is the first installment in a periodic series on what people should know ahead of the legalization of recreational cannabis taking effect Jan. 1.
tion bill, which has since been enacted. Peoria Bishop Daniel Jenky, in a statement issued jointly with the state’s five other bishops, opposed legalization and recreational usage. The Rev. David Kipfer, pastor of Ottawa Catholic Parishes, said parishioners need to be clear that medical uses — he defers to physicians for when this is appropriate — are acceptable under church teaching, but any recreational use is contrary to the faith. “Drugs used to care for us medically are great, and I would extend that to medical cannabis,” Kipfer said. “But we don’t use them to alter our mind or
ORTHODOX “The Orthodox Church condemns drug abuse in the strongest possible terms, for one reason: We love people, and we want to see all men and women flourish as human beings made in the image of their Creator,” said the Rev. Andrew Kishler, pastor of St. George Orthodox Church in Spring Valley. “We have enough problems as it is with drug and alcohol abuse; I know far too many individuals and families who have suffered great tragedy as a result of drugs,” he said. “As an Orthodox pastor, I cannot see anything good that could come out of the legalization of recreational marijuana. I cannot imagine this doing anything but adding to the problems we already have. “When it comes to medical marijuana, I am not a doctor, so if the medical establishment sees a medical purpose for it, I will not argue. But recreational marijuana is a different story. I can-
The countdown to legalization
On June 25, Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted Public Act 101-27, making Illinois the 11th state to legalize recreational cannabis. The law takes effect Jan. 1 and permits adults 21 years of age and older to smoke marijuana and to possess approximately one ounce.
not condone marijuana or the use of anything else simply for the purpose of “getting high,” feeling a buzz, or escaping the pressures of life.” ASSEMBLIES OF GOD Pastor Steve Adamson of Faith Church in Peru said he’s getting the question of “Is it right or is it wrong?” He stands by the latter. “While the Bible does not mention marijuana, it does have much to say about the misuse of alcohol and drunkenness,” Adamson said. “Some argue that getting high is not the same as getting drunk. Yet the point is the same. They both lead to an See MARIJUANA Page A2
CLEVELAND (AP) — The nation’s three dominant drug distributors and a big drugmaker have reached a tentative deal to settle a lawsuit related to the opioid crisis just as the first federal trial over the crisis was due to begin Monday, according to a lead lawyer for the local governments suing the drug industry. The tentative deal, details of which were to be announced later Monday, settles claims brought by the Ohio counties of Cuyahoga and Summit against distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKessen and the manufacturer Teva. After five drug manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, reached settlements leading up to the trial, it became clear that the focus would be largely on the behavior of the distributors. Opening arguments were scheduled to begin Monday in U.S. District Court in Cleveland. It was not immediately clear whether the federal trial in Cleveland would go forward with the two remaining defendants — distributor Henry Schein and pharmacy chain Walgreens. Lawyers, journalists and spectators packed courtroom and two overflow rooms, forming lines dozens deep before the courtroom opened at 8 a.m. The deal was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and was confirmed to The Associated Press by Paul Hanly, a lead lawyer for the local governments suing the drug industry. The trial was to be a test case for legal issues involved in thousands of lawsuits brought against players in the opioid industry by state and local governments, Native American tribes, hospitals and other entities. The plaintiffs say distributors failed to uphold a requirement that they stop suspicious orders of controlled substances from being shipped. Federal data released as part of the litigation shows that 76 billion oxycodone and hydrocodone pills were shipped to U.S. pharmacies from 2006 to 2012, with shipments continuing to grow even after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration warned the drug industry about the increasing misuse of prescription opioids. An Associated Press analysis found that in 2012, enough of the powerful and addictive painkillers were shipped for every man, woman and child in the U.S. to have nearly a 20-day supply. The lawsuit also alleged that drugmakers improperly marketed opioids to prescribers, overselling the benefits and understating the risks of a class of drugs that has been known for centuries to be addictive.
Talks fizzle as Mendota teachers strike continues Next negotiation date uncertain By Craig Sterrett NEWS EDITOR
MENDOTA — As of Sunday night, it appeared Mendota’s public grade schools will remain closed through Wednesday, and the Mendota teachers’ strike that started last week will last for at least eight days. Contract negotiations stalled after about two hours Saturday, and the Mendota Grade School Board refused to meet Sunday with the striking teachers’ union
DISTURBANCE? Mendota police are called to the rally. Page A4 members. Both sides previously had said they were willing to meet all weekend so about 1,100 students and 76 union teachers can return to classes. The Mendota Education Association held a rally at Strouss Park near the municipal pool just after noon Sunday, and received overwhelming support from the NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/CRAIG STERRETT community, says union co-presi- Mendota Grade School Board vice president Tim Pohl holds the door open at dent Rachel Sabin. Mendota High School to welcome striking Mendota Elementary Association See STRIKE Page A4 teachers to a negotiation session Saturday.