By: Dean Weiner

The labor movement is evolving in unexpected ways as the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union embarks on a groundbreaking initiative in the budding cannabis industry. They’ve introduced what they call the first-of-its-kind apprenticeship program aimed at training aspiring “budtenders” to serve customers at licensed cannabis stores in New York and New Jersey. This certified program, designed to produce “cannabis professionals,” is being developed in collaboration with the Queens-based organization known as the Cannabis Place.

The NY Post reported a deep dive into this “budding” job opportunity.

According to Hugh Giordano, the director of organizing at UFCW Local 360, this initiative represents uncharted territory in the labor movement. He describes it as a visionary partnership with an employer who is leveraging the union’s unparalleled expertise in the cannabis industry to nurture local talent, which is often overlooked. The aim is to create a scalable and repeatable model that benefits not only employees and owners but also consumers.

The founder of the Cannabis Place, Osbert Orduna, explains that the partnership with UFCW is part of the community benefits program he presented when securing licenses to operate cannabis businesses in New York and New Jersey. Their program trains individuals to become budtenders, or as they call them, “cannabis professionals.” Orduna, an ex-Marine and disabled veteran, operates a licensed cannabis store in Jersey City and runs a weed delivery service based in Queens. Participants in the two-week apprenticeship program are eligible for a $1,000 stipend, and upon graduation, they have the opportunity to join Orduna’s team.

The curriculum for the budding “cannabis professionals” covers a wide range of topics, including the history of cannabis, the cultivation process (commonly referred to as the “seed to sale” program), and learning about THC, cultivars or strains, and terpenes, which contribute to the aromas and flavors of cannabis products. Students also receive guidance on customer interactions, conflict resolution, and a deep understanding of the industry’s intricacies and the state regulations governing it. The program combines 80 hours of classroom instruction with an extensive 2,000 hours of on-the-job training.

Osbert Orduna, of Colombian descent, takes pride in working with the union and is delighted that most of the initial 22 graduates of the budtender program come from diverse backgrounds. He holds the unique distinction of being the only cannabis operator licensed to operate in both New York and New Jersey, with plans to open a marijuana dispensary in Middle Village, Queens.

The UFCW has been at the forefront of efforts to unionize cannabis workers across the nation, initially focusing on employees in New York’s medicinal marijuana program. The implementation of licensed recreational cannabis programs in both New York and New Jersey has encountered numerous challenges, leading to a slow and rocky rollout.

In New York, there are currently 26 licensed cannabis dispensaries or delivery services, with 11 of them situated within New York City after adult marijuana sale was legalized in 2021. This makes it an opportune time for the apprenticeship program to take root as illegal, unlicensed marijuana shops have mushroomed across the city’s five boroughs, including locations near City Hall and the Queens civic hub.

In New Jersey, there are 38 open dispensaries, of which 13 exclusively serve medical cannabis patients.