Legal Battles In Cannabis: UFCW Wins In Massachusetts, Alleged Misconduct In Arkansas, SEC Suit

Labor Judge Orders Massachusetts Dispensary To Negotiate With Union Despite Election Loss

A federal judge ruled in favor of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) in Massachusetts, ordering cannabis retailer I.N.S.A. Inc. to negotiate with the union despite the UFCW losing an election last year.

The judge cites the illegal firing of pro-union workers as the reason for the decision, applying a new pro-union standard from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

This precedent allows unions to represent workers despite election losses in cases of employer unfair labor practices. The ruling may face appeals, potentially reaching the U.S. Supreme Court, reported John Schroyer for Green Market Report.

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Lawsuit Accuses Arkansas Law Firm of Medical Marijuana Misconduct

The lawsuit alleges misconduct by Arkansas law firm Steel, Wright, Gray in securing medical marijuana dispensary licenses in 2019. Local owners claim they had little control over their dispensaries, with out-of-state companies reaping profits, reported local media.

SEC Sues Former Tree of Knowledge CEO Over Fraudulent PPE Pivot

The SEC filed a lawsuit against Michael Caridi, former CEO of Tree of Knowledge TOKI TOKIF, over fraudulent activities related to the personal protective equipment (PPE) supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Caridi's company reached a settlement after defrauding a Canadian hospital of $13 million for N95 masks never delivered, Bloomberg Law reported.

According to the lawsuit, Caridi diverted funds to himself and associates, leading to massive liability for TOK Entities and issued false press releases that caused stock price spikes.

The SEC seeks a ban from penny stock trading, fines, and the repayment of ill-gotten gains from the hospital deal.

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Photo by Jaime Spaniol on Unsplash.