Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
A union that represents 18,000 workers in Greater Cincinnati today endorsed ResponsibleOhio's ballot effort to legalize marijuana.
The pot proposal would strengthen the economy and improve public services through tax revenue if it makes it onto the Nov. 3 ballot and wins the approval of voters, said a spokeswoman for Local 75 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
The union represents 30,000 employees of supermarkets, drug stores, food processing and packing plants, and health care facilities in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. About 18,000 are in Cincinnati or Dayton, with the rest in Toledo.
"The majority are supermarket workers, and the majority certainly in Cincinnati and Dayton are Kroger members," union spokeswoman Laurie Couch told me. "But also Meijer (workers) and particularly in the Interstate 75 corridor some packing plants such as John Morrell and Sugar Creek."
Would the munchies be good for business? "That's certainly possible," Couch said with a laugh.
"First and foremost, we're interested in ensuring these are jobs that pay a living wage," Couch said. "It's too soon to say we will represent these workers. It's our hope the employers will do the right thing and make sure these are good jobs for cannabis workers in Ohio.
Ian James, executive director of ResponsibleOhio, echoed that sentiment. "We're proud to be working with UFCW to ensure that the new, legal marijuana industry creates family sustaining, worker-friendly jobs in Ohio communities," he said.
The proposal would legalize marijuana for medical use by adults and children who have parental permission as well as for personal use by Ohioans 21 or older. In addition, Ohioans 21 or older would be able to obtain a license for up to four. They wouldn't be allowed to sell marijuana to others.
The proposed constitutional amendment the union locals are backing would create an Ohio Marijuana Control Commission, which would license about 1,100 retail marijuana stores in addition to the 10 farms owned by groups of investors.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union currently represents thousands of workers in the medical and adult use marijuana industry across the country, Couch said. "We represent workers in health care, and this is clearly a health care issue," she said. "We have workers in medical marijuana dispensaries.
"We also represent food workers, and there is that aspect of it," she said. In some states where pot in legal, food is infused with marijuana.
"It's a dynamic and growing industry," Couch said.
ResponsibleOhio, the political action committee leading the $20 million campaign to legalize marijuana, estimates that passage would create more than 10,000 jobs. The $4.1 billion industry could funnel $554 million in taxes to counties, cities, villages and townships every year by 2020.
More than 305,000 registered voters would have to sign petitions by July 1 to get the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot. ResponsibleOhio claims it collected more than half of the signatures needed in less than one month.
"We're committed to working with ResponsibleOhio and our allies in the community to see this passes," Couch said. "This would strengthen the tax base. A lot of workers live in areas that would benefit from improved local services. We want to build stronger communities for workers and their families."
Joining Local 75 in endorsing the marijuana initiative were Local 1059 of the UFCW (representing 18,500 workers in the Columbus area) and Local 880 (representing about 21,000 workers in the Cleveland and Akron areas). The three are the largest UFCW locals in Ohio, and the executive leadership of each decided on the endorsement, Couch said. The UFCW represents 1.3 million workers nationwide.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: United Food and Commercial Workers Union locals endorse legalizing marijuana - Cincinnati Business Courier
Author: Barrett J. Brunsman
Contact: bbrunsman@bizjournals.com
Photo Credit: NBC News
Website: Business News - The Business Journals
The pot proposal would strengthen the economy and improve public services through tax revenue if it makes it onto the Nov. 3 ballot and wins the approval of voters, said a spokeswoman for Local 75 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
The union represents 30,000 employees of supermarkets, drug stores, food processing and packing plants, and health care facilities in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. About 18,000 are in Cincinnati or Dayton, with the rest in Toledo.
"The majority are supermarket workers, and the majority certainly in Cincinnati and Dayton are Kroger members," union spokeswoman Laurie Couch told me. "But also Meijer (workers) and particularly in the Interstate 75 corridor some packing plants such as John Morrell and Sugar Creek."
Would the munchies be good for business? "That's certainly possible," Couch said with a laugh.
"First and foremost, we're interested in ensuring these are jobs that pay a living wage," Couch said. "It's too soon to say we will represent these workers. It's our hope the employers will do the right thing and make sure these are good jobs for cannabis workers in Ohio.
Ian James, executive director of ResponsibleOhio, echoed that sentiment. "We're proud to be working with UFCW to ensure that the new, legal marijuana industry creates family sustaining, worker-friendly jobs in Ohio communities," he said.
The proposal would legalize marijuana for medical use by adults and children who have parental permission as well as for personal use by Ohioans 21 or older. In addition, Ohioans 21 or older would be able to obtain a license for up to four. They wouldn't be allowed to sell marijuana to others.
The proposed constitutional amendment the union locals are backing would create an Ohio Marijuana Control Commission, which would license about 1,100 retail marijuana stores in addition to the 10 farms owned by groups of investors.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union currently represents thousands of workers in the medical and adult use marijuana industry across the country, Couch said. "We represent workers in health care, and this is clearly a health care issue," she said. "We have workers in medical marijuana dispensaries.
"We also represent food workers, and there is that aspect of it," she said. In some states where pot in legal, food is infused with marijuana.
"It's a dynamic and growing industry," Couch said.
ResponsibleOhio, the political action committee leading the $20 million campaign to legalize marijuana, estimates that passage would create more than 10,000 jobs. The $4.1 billion industry could funnel $554 million in taxes to counties, cities, villages and townships every year by 2020.
More than 305,000 registered voters would have to sign petitions by July 1 to get the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot. ResponsibleOhio claims it collected more than half of the signatures needed in less than one month.
"We're committed to working with ResponsibleOhio and our allies in the community to see this passes," Couch said. "This would strengthen the tax base. A lot of workers live in areas that would benefit from improved local services. We want to build stronger communities for workers and their families."
Joining Local 75 in endorsing the marijuana initiative were Local 1059 of the UFCW (representing 18,500 workers in the Columbus area) and Local 880 (representing about 21,000 workers in the Cleveland and Akron areas). The three are the largest UFCW locals in Ohio, and the executive leadership of each decided on the endorsement, Couch said. The UFCW represents 1.3 million workers nationwide.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: United Food and Commercial Workers Union locals endorse legalizing marijuana - Cincinnati Business Courier
Author: Barrett J. Brunsman
Contact: bbrunsman@bizjournals.com
Photo Credit: NBC News
Website: Business News - The Business Journals
