UFCW, Western States Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 11, 2015
Contact: Mike Roth, 916.444.7170
Workers, law enforcement, local governments and industry come together to pass three bills that will end “Wild West” era of Cannabis Industry
Sacramento, CA – Jim Araby, Executive Director of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council, issued the following statement today on the passage of three bills that will regulate the medical cannabis industry.
“Today, the state legislature has taken the much-needed step of regulating this important and growing industry to protect consumers and workers. It took 20 years, but law enforcement, local government, labor and the industry worked together and made this happen. I am proud that the UFCW played a major role in this historic achievement.
“These bills are good for workers, good for consumers and good for California. Consumers will gain new assurances that they will get a safe, accurately labeled product. Workers will gain the protections employees in other industries have long enjoyed.
“Most importantly, the people of California will gain peace of mind from knowing that we have finally set these standards—and that we did so before a likely voter initiative on legalizing recreational cannabis in 2016.
“We thank Governor Brown for his leadership in helping get these long-overdue bills across the finish line.”
The new regulations are contained in SB 643 (McGuire), AB 266 (Bonta) and AB 243 (Wood).
The UFCW is the only union representing cannabis workers in California, with 1,200 workers under contract, and has been a pioneer in training this growing workforce.