Jersey City cannabis store workers unionize

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (PIX11) – When Anthony Capuano comes in to work at The Cannabis Place Dispensary in Jersey City, every day brings joy.

“My favorite part about my job is giving people the best weed they can possibly get,” said Capuano.

His job just got a little better now that he and his co-workers are part of the area’s first cannabis store union, joining the United Food and Commercial Workers International.

“It’s nice to see that arguing with your parents or people who aren’t really for cannabis, you can really be like, ‘we’re here now, we’re in a union.’ most people have a career where they don’t have a union job or benefits or things like that,” said Capuano.

“It’s like a great feeling,” said employee Tiffany Frazier. “It’s very emotional.”

All 22 of the dispensary’s employees are now unionized, and the store says almost all of them live in Jersey City.

Representatives said union formation can lead to better wages and more healthcare options.

“If you have union employees, what we find is a happy workforce; it’s a more productive workforce,” said Sam Ferriano, president of UFCW local 360.

“I think it’s an amazing opportunity for our team members,” said The Cannabis Place Founder and CEO Osbert Orduna, who says he’s been pro-union since day one.

He said workers in many other industries have had to fight tooth and nail to unionize.

“It really is historic because of what it creates. We’re creating an example for other businesses to follow, for the rest of the industry to follow as well,” Orduna said.

Union leaders said negotiations will begin soon.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.