Shrinking U.S. labor unions see relief in marijuana industry - (Not surprising, really)

Reuters ^ | February 6, 2013 | Samuel P. Jacobs and Alex Dobuzinskis

[re_tail20]

Except for one thing: On the glass door - under a green cross signaling that cannabis can be bought there for medical purposes - is a sticker for the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW), the nation's largest retail union.

The dispensary, the Venice Beach Care Center, is one of three medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles that are staffed by dues-paying union members. Another 49 in the city plan to enter into labor agreements with the UFCW this year, the union says.

Together, the dispensaries are a symbol of the growing bond between the nascent medical marijuana industry and struggling labor unions.

During the last few years, unions, led by the UFCW, have played an increasingly significant role in campaigns to allow medical marijuana, now legal in California, 17 other states and Washington, D.C.

In the November elections, UFCW operatives also helped get-out-the-vote efforts in Colorado, where voters approved a measure that made possession of one ounce (28.3 grams) or less of the drug legal for anyone 21 and older. Washington state approved a similar measure and both states require regulation of marijuana growers, processors and retailers.

Union officials acknowledge that their support stems partly from the idea that the marijuana industry could create hundreds of thousands of members at a time when overall union membership is shrinking.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last month that union members - who accounted for 11.8 percent of the workforce in 2011 - now make up about 11.3 percent of all American workers, the lowest percentage in nearly a century.

Retail unions such as the UFCW are fighting the rise of part-time workers and a steady drop in real wages over the last two generations. Organized labor also has been under pressure from Republican governors...

[re_tail20]

Forgot the preamble

The medical marijuana shop next to a tattoo parlor on a busy street in Los Angeles looks much like hundreds of other pot dispensaries that dot the city.

[GeronL]

one of the dumbest things I ever saw

[andyk]

Colorado, where voters approved a measure that made possession of one ounce (28.3 grams) or less of the drug legal for anyone 21 and older

Haha, just don't buy, sell, or grow it, and you're fine. That's some kind of "legalization". Do nothing about the crime associated with it, and then give people a chance to complain about how legalization doesn't make things better. Sounds like a plan right out of the GOP playbook.

[pfflier]

Another 49 in the city plan to enter into labor agreements with the UFCW this year, the union says.

Hmmm, sounds like they are buying "protection".

[Vaduz]

Medical marijuana being a product that isn’t approved by the FDA but can be sold to the public,so much for laws.
Now is a good time to bring back snake oil products.

Al capone smiles

[American in Israel]

The Mafia has traditionally run the street drug industry. No surprise here.

[Phlap]

Look at this. lol

[nascarnation]

I read a story yesterday that car washes in California are unionizing.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/22/business/la-fi-trumka-laborers-20120222

Maybe the Cal legislature should pass a reverse RTW bill and make any person who is employed join a union.

[andyk]

I don't think the bottle of scotch on my counter is FDA approved. I think this is the first time I've seen a FReeper unhappy about the fedguv not stretching its tentacles into our lives.

Al Capone would have opposed legalization, just like he favored prohibition.

[Ken H]

Medical marijuana being a product that isn’t approved by the FDA but can be sold to the public,so much for laws.

So why are you peeing on the Tenth Amendment?

[JustSayNoToNannies]

Colorado, where voters approved a measure that made possession of one ounce (28.3 grams) or less of the drug legal for anyone 21 and older

Haha, just don't buy, sell, or grow it, and you're fine.

The article also says "both states [Colorado and Washington] require regulation of marijuana growers, processors and retailers." Journalism major at work there.

[andyk]

The article also says "both states [Colorado and Washington] require regulation of marijuana growers, processors and retailers." Journalism major at work there.

That's interesting. They seem to be conflating medicinal marijuana laws with the new law that applies to recreational use. It's still illegal to grow, sell, or buy recreationally. It's just possession that is decriminalized.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

“It’s still illegal to grow, sell, or buy recreationally.”

It says the opposite here (section 4, b-f): http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1251842726694&ssbinary=true

[JustSayNoToNannies]

More precisely, it will be legal to grow, sell, or buy recreationally with a license once the enabling legislation for the amendment is passed.

[andyk]

Thanks for the cite! :-)

[andyk]

That is really interesting - color me surprised and impressed. I don’t think the Washington referendum was that extensive.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote/OnlineVotersGuide/Measures?countyCode=xx&electionId=46#ososTop

[Vaduz]

Laws are for other people?.

[Vaduz]

Can be sold to the public,so can humans in some places.