Ohio Cannabis Dispensary First To Join Teamsters Union As GOP Seeks To Alter Legalization Law

Nearly all eligible workers at the Columbus-based Strawberry Fields dispensary have voted to join Teamsters Local 413, becoming the first in Ohio to affiliate with the union.

The move comes several weeks after Ohioans approved an initiative to legalize adult-use cannabis Nov. 7.

“This is the first of many proprietors we will be organizing now in Ohio, especially now that recreational cannabis is legal,” said Tony Jones, Teamsters International VP at large and president of Local 413.

“These workers are an amazing group of people who stood strong in spite of the company running a nasty anti-union campaign. I have no doubt that the tenacity, bravery, and solidarity they demonstrated during the lead-up to the election will serve them well when we start negotiations.”

Union organizing is going on while Ohio’s now legal cannabis program is under attack by the Republican-dominated state House and Senate. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) and Senate leader Matt Huffman (R) are chipping away at the initiative in an effort to revise it before cannabis possession and cultivation become legal Dec. 7, when the initiative led by the Coalition To Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol goes into effect. 

"The success of our latest organizing effort is a clear message to the Ohio cannabis industry: workers demand and deserve respect," said Peter Finn, Teamsters Western Region International VP and Food Processing Division Director.

"This is just the beginning. We're on a mission to transform this industry one contract at a time, with sustainable, middle-class careers."

Strawberry Fields Budtenders Weigh In: “This is a huge moment for the Teamsters, Ohio, the labor movement, the cannabis community, and especially us,” said budtender Estlin Hiller. “By unanimous decision, after months of hard work by everyone involved, we won. We are ecstatic about this outcome, immensely proud of one another, and looking forward to bargaining our first contract. Strawberry Fields united, solidarity forever.”

Recent Cannabis Unionization Efforts: Other successful unionizing efforts have been underway across the country over the past months within companies like Ayr Wellness AYRWF in Nevada, Cannabist Company Holdings CCHWF in New Jersey, Cresco Labs CRLBF Illinois, Grassdoor in California and Verano Holdings VRNOF in Chicago.

Photo: Benzinga edit with photos by Bits And Splits and Oleksandrum on Shutterstock.