The employees of a Pennsylvania medical marijuana company have signed a labor contract with their employer, making them the first cannabis workers in the state to unionize. The three-year agreement between employees and management of Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Solutions was recently ratified, making about 30 production and laboratory operations workers in a Scranton manufacturing facility members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 Keystone State.

Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Solutions is a subsidiary of Vireo Health, a cannabis company licensed to operate in 11 markets with legal cannabis. Kyle Kingsley, the CEO of Vireo Health, said in a press release that the firm supports its employees’ right to unionize.

“As a socially responsible business, Vireo is deeply committed to its employees and is proud to be a union employer,” Kingsley said. “We believe that a unionized workforce is key to our company’s success and look forward to partnering with UFCW to support legislation, such as legalizing adult-use cannabis, that will help create thousands of new middle-class jobs across the Keystone State.”

Vireo Health also has plans to open three medical marijuana dispensaries in the state by the end of the year, which will create up to 20 more union jobs for retail workers.

“This is a fantastic contract for our members and a great win for the future of all workers in the cannabis industry,” said UFCW 1776KS president Wendell Young IV. “I am very proud of the role that UFCW has played in helping to bring collective bargaining to the cannabis industry and help create good-paying jobs in Pennsylvania. I want to thank our union bargaining committee and Vireo Health for their hard work on this contract.”

“The UFCW offers cannabis workers and business owners, along with patients and coalition allies, the opportunity to work together to accomplish shared goals,” the union writes on its website. “By crafting and supporting targeted legislative efforts, along with negotiating the best contracts for workers, we are giving workers a voice in the workplace and beyond!”

Unionization a National Trend

Vireo Health also has subsidiaries in New York and Minnesota with workers who have unionized. Nationwide, about 10,000 workers in the cannabis industry are covered by a union contract, mostly on the West Coast, where cannabis has been legal the longest.

“We looked at the cannabis industry and said the union could use its political power to bring forward the good players out of the black market, and bring some credibility and establish a legitimate industry,” Jim Araby, of Northern California’s UFCW Local 5, told Rolling Stone earlier this year.

Nikki Kateman of UFCW Local 338 in New York said that unions can help create a more socially equitable cannabis industry.

“Our members live in communities that have been disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs,” said Kateman. “We want to right the wrongs our members have experienced.”

Canada might have been the second country in the world to legalize recreational cannabis, the Netherlands the first to tolerate it, but the state of California takes first place as being the leader in embracing what it truly means to be cannabis-forward. Not only is recreational cannabis legal in California, but it has very quickly matured into a viable and mature consumer market.

Having recently spent some time there, I found the way they have seamlessly integrated cannabis into everyday life incredibly inspiring. In particular, the way in which premium retailers and brands are normalizing a cannabis lifestyle through sophisticated design and experiential culture provides an interesting glimpse into the future for the Canadian industry.

Perhaps this isn’t surprising given California’s long and storied history in cannabis growth and cultivation. Admittedly, they may have had a head start, and Angelinos tend to be leaders in all things cool. From seed to sale, California’s recreational cannabis industry is moving at breakneck speed. Indicators of market maturation like brand and market development, retail dispensaries and lounges, trade shows and events are at a level commensurate with other consumer lifestyle products.

Unlike most Canadian cannabis trade shows where scantily clad women dance on stage or Canadian flags are rendered with pot leaves rather than maple leaves, Hall of Flowers in San Antonio, could easily have been mistaken for a cutting-edge fashion/lifestyle show. The thoughtfully executed experience was located in an outdoor venue comprised of several exhibit halls, outdoor and indoor lounge and café spaces, as well as a dispensary. The juried exhibitors were each provided with the same exhibit structure thereby creating a sense of curation and visual homogeneity.

Whether flower or oil, edibles or topicals — brand is big. Market segmentation is even bigger. Cannabis companies in California are clearly understanding that the key to success in this industry is market differentiation: Highland Pantry targets women 50 plus; Foria, women’s health and wellness; Shrebrinsky’s, the cannabis cannoisseur.

A favourite retail axiom is to simply give the public what they want. We are adults, after all. Product that is locked up behind glass cases and masked branding reminiscent of the Soviet Union, are nowhere to be seen here. Instead, in shops like Medmen, the Apple of cannabis, brands are provided with their own thoughtfully designed space where they can proudly tell their story. In Erba, a cannabis supermarket, brands set up their own shop – in – shops. Micro-dose cannabis pen producer dosist has opened its own experiential wellness boutiques in Abbot Kinney, LA. And last month, cannabis producer and retailer Lowell’s opened the first cannabis consumption lounge in West Hollywood. Apparently, there’s already a 30-day waiting list to get a table.

With an established market of consumers hungry for unique experiences in cannabis, it’s no wonder that LA is also home for the first leg of Weedmaps Museum of Weed. While chalk-full of highly Instagrammable moments, Weedmaps Museum of Weed is not just an immersive experience for your feed, but an educational journey through the complex history of cannabis in the U.S. Increasingly, cannabis consumers are looking for meaningful experiences to explore both the plant and its culture, and those needs are being met in California.

With U.S. federal legalization seemingly only a matter of time, the increasing refinement that the Californian cannabis industry is demonstrating is likely to become a nationwide thing. And if this is a sign of things to come when legislation relaxes and an industry begins to mature, then Canada, look out.

Rhode Island employers may be justifiably confused as to whether and how to implement policies concerning their employees’ use of marijuana.  Despite its continued federal classification as a Schedule 1 drug, marijuana has been increasingly legalized by several states.  Dozens of states, including Rhode Island, now allow for the sale and/or use of some form of medical marijuana.  More recently, some states have begun to legalize the drug’s recreational use.  Nine states have passed laws permitting some form of recreational marijuana, including Rhode Island’s New England neighbors of Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine.  Recent bills introduced in the Rhode Island legislature suggest that Rhode Island is also moving towards legalizing recreational use of marijuana.

Although Rhode Island has not yet legalized recreational marijuana, several components of state government have taken a more permissive view towards the drug.  In a decision that may have broad implications, the Rhode Island Superior Court held that The Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act prohibited an employer from refusing to hire a potential employee solely because that potential employee held a medical marijuana card.  Thereafter, Governor Raimondo signed legislation permitting people to petition courts to expunge criminal records stemming from crimes that have since been decriminalized.  A press release from the Rhode Island General Assembly announcing the law cited the state’s decriminalization of small possessions of marijuana as an impetus for the change.  Additionally, the Rhode Island Department of Health has approved a petition that permits doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to children with autism.

Bills have also been introduced in both the Rhode Island House and Senate regarding recreational use of marijuana.  Senate Bill 2895, entitled “An Act Relating to Food and Drugs – Adult Use of Cannabis Act” would replace prohibition of recreational use of marijuana with regulation and taxation if it is enacted.  In the House, Bill 7883 would submit a non-binding referendum to the state’s electorate regarding the legalization of possession and use of marijuana by persons 21 and older.  Although the Senate Bill has been adjourned indefinitely and the House Bill has been held for further study, their introduction suggests a changing tide with respect to Rhode Island’s official views on marijuana.  Recreational legalization did not move forward this year despite the Governor’s initial proposal, but the state’s 2020 budget includes funding for tripling the number of Rhode Island compassion centers.  Furthermore, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha recently joined 20 of his fellow state attorneys general and sent a letter to Congress that supports a bill that would prevent the federal government from interfering with state marijuana programs.

Employers should respond to this shifting landscape by revisiting, or considering for the first time, their recreational marijuana policies to minimize their legal risks in the event that Rhode Island ultimately legalizes recreational marijuana.  Depending upon the type of business, is recreational marijuana and drug screening an activity that the employer wants to undertake?  If so, what test results will result in what types of consequences for employees and potential employees?  If an employer conducts business in multiple states with different marijuana regulatory regimes, should they treat employees in those states that permit recreational use differently?  Does an employer want to maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy in accordance with federal laws?  How should off-duty consumption effect employment status?  How does an employer treat recreational marijuana users vis-à-vis medical marijuana card holders?  These are just some of the questions that employers need to address now, and will need to revisit as Rhode Island’s marijuana laws continue to evolve.  

Certain people in the cannabis business are more prone to carpal tunnel syndrome than others who work in the industry. Just like professions that require their workers to type, cook, or use a cash register all day, marijuana trimmers suffer due to the detailed, repetitive nature of their work.

The carpal tunnel is a thin tube in your wrist, pretty much from elbow to palm of the hand, that houses the median nerve, which becomes inflamed when the syndrome kicks in. Fortunately, cannabis is here to save the day yet again.

The NSAIDs or corticosteroids that are commonly used to treat the pain associated with carpal tunnel have side effects that range from weight gain and easy bruising to osteoporosis. On the other hand (no pun intended) cannabis’ side effects are short term and include an increase in appetite, dry mouth and the potential for giggles. CBD has no side effects at all. However, depending on the severity of your carpal tunnel, you still may need to wear a splint to bed in order to combat the numb, tingling feelings.

Another problem with using the anti-inflammatories like NSAIDs and steroids is that your body builds up a tolerance to them over time. This can lead to stronger painkillers, more discomfort and an increased moodiness. Cannabis is a known anti-inflammatory and though you may build up a tolerance if you’ve never tried it before, it evens out pretty quickly. Let’s say in a matter of weeks, though it certainly varies from person to person.

Cannabis is a natural remedy for inflammation in soft tissues, for nerve damage and for joint pain—all associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. It makes the most sense to use a substance that’s able to relieve the three symptoms of carpal tunnel and that has additional benefits like mood elevation and the alleviation of other aches and pains. If you’re using a topical cannabis product, however, it will be non-psychoactive, but it will work wonders.

THC or CBD Topicals are the best bet for workers who fear drug testing and the products work even better in conjunction with CBD tincture, gummies and/or vape pens. If you’re able to get a bit lifted, though, using an edible or smoking/vaping a good strain for pain, like Girl Scout Cookies, will provide deeper relief.

It’s no fun having a syndrome that makes what you’re used to doing either impossible or limited, but there is relief to be had. Incorporating cannabis into your wellness regime may be the difference between a good day and a bad one, a good night’s rest or an awkward tossing and turning to keep your wrists in position. Cannabis is an excellent medicine, especially when it comes to inflammation, and its potential to help mitigate carpal tunnel syndrome is no small miracle.