The UFCW, the union representing thousands of workers in the US cannabis industry, has officially endorsed the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act. The bill, introduced last week by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) along with Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 14 other Democrats, would remove cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act and replace it with a national regulatory system.
Strengthening Worker Protections
According to UFCW International President Milton Jones, the industry’s success depends on the prosperity of the workers who power it — growers, cultivators, manufacturers, processors, and budtenders. The union highlighted that the legislation would extend federal worker protections to agricultural workers in the cannabis industry, who are currently excluded from many organizing and collective bargaining rights under the National Labor Relations Act.
Get the week’s important news from Cannabis.se in your inbox — interesting weekend reading! 🥦✉️
Safety, Training, and Criminal Justice Reform
The proposal would apply the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act to cannabis workers, support the development of national workplace safety standards, and provide grants for industry training programs.
On the criminal justice side, the bill includes provisions for automatic expungement of certain nonviolent federal cannabis convictions, allows eligible individuals to seek resentencing, and provides funding and incentives for state-level expungement programs.
What the Bill Would Do
The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would remove marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act while allowing states to maintain or establish their own cannabis laws. It would create a federal regulatory and taxation framework and restrict legal sales to those aged 21 and older.
Sponsor: Sensi Seeds are one of Europe’s most recognized names in premium cannabis genetics, offering a wide selection of feminized, autoflowering, CBD-rich and F1 hybrid seeds for customers who want quality, consistency and choice.