New Jersey Gov. Signs Law Providing Labor Protections for Cannabis Cultivation Employees 

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday signed legislation establishing new labor protections for cannabis cultivation workers. The law ensures that cannabis cultivation and related industry employees are fully covered under the state’s labor statutes, granting them rights to organize, collectively bargain, and engage in protected activities without intimidation or retaliation. 

In a statement, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local 152 President Daniel Ross Jr. applauded the governor’s signing of the bill, calling it “a victory for all working people in New Jersey.”  

“Cannabis cultivation workers were building a new industry without labor protections many take for granted. … This law should be viewed as a significant step forward for other groups of workers in New Jersey who are not fully protected under federal labor laws. It is my hope that this legislation serves as a springboard for further conversations about addressing gaps in worker protections that still exist in our state.” — Ross Jr. in a press release      

The legislation gives enforcement authority to the State Board of Mediation within the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, authorizing penalties – up to $10,000 for the first violation, and up to $20,000 for cases that result in the discharge or economic harm of an employee – to hold non-compliant employers accountable.