Colorado Dispensaries Join Union

Medical marijuana dispensaries are a type of business that exist in a legal grey area. It is for this reason that it has been so easy for the federal government to bully them into shutting down, despite public support for the medicine and it's legal use.

Colorado dispensaries, however, have made a move to increase their political sway by joining the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. As the first medical marijuana entity to make such a bold step they are raising eyebrows across the nation.

The Union has welcomes them with open arms, however. After threats from the federal government to prosecute dispensaries, union members have offered their support, and agreed to fight alongside dispensary owners.

According to Daniel Rush, an organizer for the union, dispensaries have become caught up in a war, and the union can help them win it. The biggest fight appears to be in California, where the U.S. Justice Department is making drastic steps to limit laws passed by majority vote.

California dispensaries, as well as some in Michigan and Washington, are now following in the footsteps of Colorado dispensaries and are seeking to join a union as well. They view medical marijuana as part of the retail health care, agriculture, and food processing industries, meaning dispensaries should have the same protection as other workers in those categories.

Groups that have benefitted from union involvement in the past include meat cutters, textile workers, pharmacy professionals, and more. Hopefully dispensary owners will soon be added to that list.

The UFCW appears to be welcoming them with open arms, and boasts 100 years experience fighting for worker's rights in similar situations. All public statements made by their representative have been in support of the medical marijuana community, showing a strong unity that will be beneficial when debating with federal officials.