A small group of employees in Michigan’s marijuana sector is making headlines for taking on a rare challenge: unionizing. Eight cannabis workers at Exclusive Brands in Ann Arbor began a strike on Aug. 28 to demand recognition of their right to join a union. The company, which grows, processes, and sells marijuana at seven dispensaries across the state, also faces allegations of firing a union supporter at its processing facility.
According to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which the employees hope to join, this strike highlights the limited presence of organized labor in Michigan’s cannabis industry. While the state now has nearly 40,000 industry employees, only a few dispensaries, processing plants, and grow operations employ unionized cannabis workers, making the Exclusive Brands action a significant development.
Why These Workers Walked Out
Emily Hull, a budtender and organizing committee member at Exclusive Brands, told the Detroit Free Press that employees have not even been able to vote on whether to unionize. She said frustration built over a lack of communication from management and delayed repairs, like broken drawers in the store. Some cannabis workers who raised issues reportedly had their hours cut, prompting the decision to strike.
If successful, these employees would join UFCW Local 876, which represents 18,000 workers across cannabis, grocery, meatpacking, food processing, and retail industries in Michigan. UFCW Local 876 is part of UFCW International, representing 1.2 million workers across all 50 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico. For many cannabis workers, union membership offers better communication, job security, and improved working conditions.
Growing Momentum for Cannabis Worker Unions
Exclusive Brands President Omar Hishmeh stated in an email that the company is not blocking any vote or employee action. Still, unionized cannabis workers remain relatively uncommon in Michigan, though more have joined unions in other states with legal marijuana markets.
UFCW said it represents tens of thousands of cannabis workers nationwide, including in Michigan. Other examples include drivers and budtenders at Ascend Cannabis Provisions in Grand Rapids, who ratified their first Teamsters contract two years ago, and workers at the Pharma Cann cultivation facility in Warren, who voted to join Teamsters Local 337 before the site closed.
UFCW Local 876 has also filed a complaint with the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency, urging regulators to review Exclusive Brands’ labor law compliance when considering licensing renewals. This strike may signal a turning point for Michigan’s cannabis workers, showing how organizing can shape the future of the state’s booming marijuana industry.