Employment

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission was in the process of investigating the Trulieve facility where an employee died in January for previous employee complaints.

Massachusetts authorities are investigating the circumstances around the death of former Trulieve employee Lorna McMurrey, who OSHA concluded died after inhaling “ground cannabis dust” at the company’s Holyoke facility.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said a worker at Trulieve’s Holyoke, Massachusetts cannabis facility, Lorna McMurrey, died after inhaling “ground cannabis dust.”

The Cannabis Community College has launched its online cannabis education platform with courses including the Cannabis Essentials 5 Course Bundle and an internship program to place graduates at licensed firms.

Officials in California have passed a law to protect workers who test positive on drug screenings for cannabis consumed outside of work with some exceptions. The bill has been sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for his signature.

The Trucking Alliance is seeking permission from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to change its drug testing protocols from standard urine tests to hair tests to gain a more accurate representation of when drugs were consumed by drivers.

In a recent ruling, Nevada’s Supreme Court clarified that adult cannabis use was not considered “lawful” behavior outside of work because it is not federally legal.

A medical cannabis patient, combat veteran, and former Florida Department of Corrections officer who was fired after testing positive on a random drug test is now suing the state, arguing his constitutional rights were violated.

The Minority Cannabis Business Association is partnering with cannabis education company Green Flower to provide members with four free training courses.

Louisiana’s new medical cannabis laws are now in effect, including provisions for protecting state employees who use medical cannabis, putting the Department of Health in charge of the state’s cannabis program, and prohibiting police from searching homes without a warrant based on the odor of cannabis.

Kara Bradford and David Murét are Co-Founders (and CEO and COO, respectively) of Viridian Staffing, the cannabis industry’s original and oldest recruitment firm.

An executive order issued by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) last week protects workers from cannabis-related penalties amid a worker shortage.

Some workers at province-run cannabis stores in Quebec have entered an indefinite strike over low pay. The workers are with the Syndicat Canadien de la Fonction Publique, which is affiliated with the largest trade union in the province.

The Teamsters union has successfully recruited more than 500 cannabis industry workers and is looking to organize in multiple states with upcoming cannabis legalization questions on their ballots.

Multistate cannabis firm Curaleaf did not offer Juneteenth holiday pay for its unionized employees but did for non-unionized employees.

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear cases regarding employers’ refusal to pay for medical cannabis as a part of worker’s compensation claims.

Canada-based Aurora Cannabis Inc. announced it will be laying off 12% of its workforce in order to realign its organization with the future of the cannabis industry.

Despite President Biden’s campaign promise to reform federal cannabis laws, applicants interested in White House internships must disclose prior cannabis use, which could affect their eligibility even if the consumption took place in a legalized state.

The Washington D.C. City Council passed a bill to protect employees in the District from being fired for positive cannabis drug tests.

The cannabis technology platform Dutchie has laid off 8% of its workforce, pinning the development on a “dramatic market shift.”

Louisiana lawmakers passed legislation to protect state workers from being terminated for medical cannabis use but the measure does not apply to certain safety-sensitive jobs, including public safety officials.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed a bill package that overhauls the state’s medical cannabis industry and includes regulations for cultivators, employees, and dispensaries.

Lawmakers in the Louisiana House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations last week unanimously approved a bill to protect state employees who use medical cannabis.

California cannabis company Jungle Boys TLC is facing a lawsuit alleging unsafe work conditions, gender discrimination, and unpaid wages. The company has denied the allegations and intends to defend itself in court.