Cannabis workers seeking to unionize
Jul. 3—CUMBERLAND — Cannabis workers at The Apothecarium Dispensary in Cumberland are alleging poor working condition and have filed to unionize under the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 27.
The Apothecarium, owned by the Canadian corporation TerrAscend, is located at 100 Beall St. and employs 28 people.
A vast majority of the workers in the bargaining unit have signed union cards to show their support for unionizing their workplace, according to a press release issued by Local 27.
"We are so proud of these workers. We stand behind them and their belief that they are valued," said Local 27 President Jason Chorpenning in the release. "They have a very important job in the community. We have their backs when it comes to their desire to see better pay and benefits, less favoritism and worker safety."
According to the release, "The issues persist despite the parent company, TerrAscend Corp., having a valuation of $425.86 million and strong gross profit margins of 48% in the first quarter of this year."
The business opened as the Allegany Medical Marijuana Dispensary in November 2017, offering flower, pre-rolls, vaporizers, concentrate and edibles. It was purchased by TerrAscend, a multi-state operator, in January 2023.
The employees frustrations grew when the dispensary was sold, according to Nick Lamb, a wellness associate, which is what a budtender is called at The Apothecarium.
Lamb began working at the dispensary about one year before TerrAscend purchased the business.
"We just want a little movement, a little attention," he said. "All of us there are happy and we are happy with our crew. We just want a stable workplace."
Lamb said the problems are largely focused on the condition of the building.
"For me it is a lot of small things that have been going on for the past year or longer," said Lamb. "We've had a lot of roof issues. They've been in at least five times and I'm hoping (it's better). We won't know until it heavily rains again."
According to the press release, "Tests conducted in February 2024 showed there was an acceptable amount of mold in the workplace. Workers believe they should not have to jeopardize their health and tolerate breathing in mold while doing their jobs."
Lamb said employees have one unisex bathroom. "It's a little beat down. One stall is out of order. It's not a great bathroom," he said.
The building has multiple plumbing, electrical and HVAC issues, according to the release.
"There seems to be some communication issues," said Lamb. "We seem to be the little people at the bottom but we do a lot of the hard work day to day. I haven't gotten emails back for a month or so."
The application for a union vote was submitted to the National Labor Relations Board on June 28. An official vote to unionize is expected in the next 30 days.
According to the UFCW, the union drive came together fast.
"They reached out to Local 27 at the start of June and quickly came together to garner a supermajority for unionizing their workplace before the end of the month," the release said.
Local 27 represents cannabis workers in 10 other dispensaries across Maryland and Delaware. The Apothecarium is the only one owned by TerrAscend.
Other cannabis dispensaries in Maryland to join Local 27 include Health for Life dispensaries in Baltimore and White Marsh; Zen Leaf Dispensary, Towson; Green Goods Dispensary in Frederick and PharmaCann Verilife in Westminster.
"At TerrAscend, we respect our employees' rights to unionize, as protected by labor laws," a TerrAscend spokesperson said by email Tuesday afternoon. "Should a division of our employees choose to go in this direction, TerrAscend will maintain an open dialogue with union representatives and uphold a fair and positive work environment for all employees at this location, as we do for all our colleagues across Maryland and the other states we operate in."
Greg Larry is a reporter at the Cumberland Times-News. To reach him, call 304-639-4951, email glarry@times-news.com and follow him on Twitter @GregLarryCTN.
