--- title: Iconic Dispensary Sets New York Milestone description: Herbal Care becomes the first legal cannabis dispensary unionized in New York, setting a precedent for labor rights in the state's cannabis industry. image: https://420intel.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_225736652.jpeg --- [![420intel.com](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset%2016-1.png?width=300&height=162&name=Asset%2016-1.png "420intel.com")](https://420intel.com) - [Home](https://420intel.com) - [Advertise](https://420intel.com/advertise) - [Directory](https://420intel.com/directory) - [Topics](https://420intel.com/blog) - [Recreational News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/recreational-cannabis-news) - [Business News](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-business-news) - [Politics](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-politics) - [Technology](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-technology-news) - [Research](https://420intel.com/tag/medical-cannabis-news) - [Contact](https://420intel.com/contact-us) - [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/420intel) - [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/420-intel/) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://x.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/420intel) ### Press ESC to close [![420intel.com](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset%2016-1.png?width=300&height=162&name=Asset%2016-1.png "420intel.com")](https://420intel.com) - [Home](https://420intel.com) - [Advertise](https://420intel.com/advertise) - [Directory](https://420intel.com/directory) - [Topics](https://420intel.com/blog) - [Recreational News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/recreational-cannabis-news) - [Business News](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-business-news) - [Politics](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-politics) - [Technology](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-technology-news) - [Research](https://420intel.com/tag/medical-cannabis-news) - [Contact](https://420intel.com/contact-us) - [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/420intel) - [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/420-intel/) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://x.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/420intel) # Iconic Dispensary Sets New York Milestone - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - [Recreational Cannabis News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/recreational-cannabis-news) - 26 October 2025 UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The Herbal Care, a locally owned dispensary on Lexington Avenue, recently made New York state history — it's the first legal cannabis retailer to unionize. The bud-tenders at the store, which opened in 2023 as one of the city’s early entrants into the state’s adult-use cannabis market, have joined Local 338 which is a New York cannabis union. The recent vote to unionize, founder Markel Bababekov told Patch, reinforces the shop’s commitment to employee rights, collaboration, and long-term sustainability as the state’s legal market continues to expand. "Unionizing is not just about business — it’s about building a better future for everyone involved," Bababekov said. For bud-tender Calib Wolters, unionizing means he's getting consistently 32 hours of work per week and that the entire staff got a $1.10 per hour raise up to make around $19 an hour. "I was concerned about turnover with prior staff, so I was happy to get the union behind us, just for representation and to hear our concerns," Wolters, an Upper East Sider and musician, told Patch. "Getting both \[pay raises and hour minimums\] up has helped immensely." As part of the union contract, the workers now have added recognized holidays, where bud-tenders on shift will make time-and-a-half pay. Bababekov told Patch he was in support of the workers unionizing. "The workers love that we became a union, they got some benefits that they wouldn’t have received otherwise," Bababekov told Patch. He added that nothing specific happened to drive the workers to unionize, but that a "strong majority of them" voted in favor of unionizing. "The workers wanted to unionize, which we were absolutely in favor of. So the union came did a vote, and after a long negotiation, we finally became a union last week," Bababekov said. This is not the first time this dispensary has made history. In 2024, The Herbal Care became the first legal weed store to open on the Upper East Side. Since opening, The Herbal Care has built a reputation for offering education-based customer service and a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere. The store’s latest move to unionize further establishes it as one of New York’s most forward-thinking dispensaries, Bababekov said. "We’re proud to lead by example and show that the cannabis industry can be both innovative and equitable," Bababekov said. "This is a groundbreaking moment for the New York cannabis community." *The Herbal Care is located at 1410 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10128.*   [by MSN](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/an-upper-east-side-cannabis-dispensary-makes-new-york-history/ar-AA1OPyrC?ocid=BingNewsVerp)   [Recreational Cannabis News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/recreational-cannabis-news) ![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=200&height=200&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) #### [Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) At 420 Intel, we cover cannabis legalization news throughout the world, offer reliable information for cannabis business owners, detail technological advances that impact the marijuana industry, cover marijuana rallies from across the globe, and everything in between. - - - [Cannabis Laws](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/cannabis-laws) [![Bill Passed to Pause Tax Hike on Cannabis](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20vibrant%20California%20landscape%20under%20a%20clear%20blue%20sky%20with%20rolling%20hills%20dotted%20with%20lush%20green%20marijuana%20plants%20swaying%20gently%20in%20the%20breeze%20In%20the%20foreground%20a%20diverse%20group%20of%20peoplemen%20and%20women%20of%20various%20ages%20and%20ethnicitiesga.jpeg?width=550&height=395&name=The%20image%20depicts%20a%20vibrant%20California%20landscape%20under%20a%20clear%20blue%20sky%20with%20rolling%20hills%20dotted%20with%20lush%20green%20marijuana%20plants%20swaying%20gently%20in%20the%20breeze%20In%20the%20foreground%20a%20diverse%20group%20of%20peoplemen%20and%20women%20of%20various%20ages%20and%20ethnicitiesga.jpeg)](https://420intel.com/blog/bill-passed-to-pause-tax-hike-on-cannabis) - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - 5 June 2025 #### [Bill Passed to Pause Tax Hike on Cannabis](https://420intel.com/blog/bill-passed-to-pause-tax-hike-on-cannabis) The California State Assembly unanimously voted on Monday to halt a slated 25% tax increase on the... 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