Largest Cannabis Industry Strike Ends at Illinois Cultivation Facility
Cannabis cultivation workers are playing an increasingly prominent role in labor organizing across the legal US cannabis industry.
More than 300 workers at an Illinois cannabis cultivation facility have returned to work after ratifying their first union contract, ending what the Teamsters describe as the largest strike in the history of the legal US cannabis industry.
Cultivation, processing, and distribution employees at Ascend Wellness Holdings’ 110,000-square-foot facility in Barry, Illinois, voted to approve a new collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 916, which represents workers across multiple industries, bringing the 30-day strike to a close.
According to the labor union, the action was the largest strike in the history of the legal US cannabis industry by workforce size and the first work stoppage at a Teamsters-organized cultivation facility. Workers walked off the job in late June after contract negotiations stalled and the union accused the company of unfair labor practices.
The new agreement includes wage increases, lower healthcare costs, expanded paid time off, stronger seniority protections, and additional workplace safeguards. Union officials said they hope the contract will serve as a model for future agreements at cannabis cultivation facilities as labor organizing continues to expand across the industry.
Labor Organizing Gains Momentum in the Cannabis Industry
The agreement comes amid growing labor organizing across the US cannabis industry, particularly among employees of large multi-state operators (MSOs). In recent years, cultivation and dispensary workers have increasingly turned to collective bargaining to secure better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Unlike previous high-profile disputes centered on retail dispensaries, the Ascend strike involved cultivation, processing, and distribution workers, making it one of the first major labor actions with the potential to affect cannabis production within a large MSO.
The agreement follows several notable labor disputes in the sector. In 2025, medical cannabis dispensary employees at Green Thumb Industries in Pennsylvania staged a 45-day strike that the Teamsters described as the longest work stoppage in the history of the US cannabis industry. Earlier this year, Teamsters-represented workers at a Cresco Labs dispensary in Pennsylvania ended a 20-day strike after ratifying a contract that included wage increases and stronger workplace protections.
The 30-day walkout at Ascend Wellness involved more than 300 workers, making it, according to the Teamsters, the largest cannabis industry strike by workforce size and the first work stoppage at a Teamsters-organized cultivation facility. The outcome is likely to be closely watched by cannabis operators and labor organizations as union representation continues to expand across the legal cannabis industry.
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Stephen Andrews
