• 04
  • November
    2011

As the saying goes, "Look for the union label" -- but on a bag of marijuana?

Employees of medical marijuana dispensaries in Colorado are the newest members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), so packages of the Colorado herb would qualify to carry the union label. In fact, medical marijuana dispensaries in California, Michigan and Washington state are now following suit and applying for union representation.

A spokesperson for the union said that adding marijuana growers and processors to its membership isn't that much of a stretch. For years, the union has represented workers in the agriculture, health care and food processing industries. The medical marijuana business encompasses all three.

"Our union has over 100 years' experience representing these very types of workers," said Kim Cordova, the president of the UFCW Local 7. "We intend for our collective bargaining agreements to serve as a first line of regulation in the communities our members work in, and we are proud to do it,"

To date, union membership in Colorado and Wyoming is strong, with 25,000 members in the grocery, pharmacy, meat, textile and health care industries.

Medical marijuana is now legal in 16 states, including the District of Columbia. Nevertheless, the Department of Justice has recently warned state-licensed growers and dispensary workers that they may be in violation of federal money laundering and drug laws.

Here, one clear benefit of union backing is the lobbying power of the union itself and its willingness to fight these federal prosecutions.

Currently, the union and its workers are advocating for medical marijuana clinics throughout the state, making voters aware that the industry provides 8,000 jobs in Colorado and contributes millions of tax dollars each year.

It is worth noting that the union faces an uphill battle in Fort Collins, Colorado, where a ballot measure would ban marijuana dispensaries within the city limits.

Stay tuned for more developments from our Denver criminal defense blog ...

This post is provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.

Source:

Bloomberg Businessweek, "Colo. medical marijuana dispensaries join union" Oct. 17, 2011