Short answer: yes—Nevada has an active cannabis labor movement, led primarily by the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 711. Over the past two years, workers at dispensaries, a processing (“oil lab”) facility, and delivery depots have organized and begun ratifying first contracts. Unlike states such as California or New York, Nevada does not impose a statewide “labor peace agreement” (LPA) mandate as a licensing condition; organizing has advanced through traditional National Labor Relations Act channels in a right-to-work environment. READ MORE: onlabor.org
Who’s the union—and when did this start?
Nationally, UFCW launched Cannabis Workers Rising in 2010, positioning itself as the main union in dispensaries, cultivation, manufacturing, and labs. In Nevada, those efforts are carried by UFCW Local 711, a long-standing local (formed via a merger in 1982) whose jurisdiction includes Nevada and Utah.
Nevada’s first highly publicized organizing win in the current wave came August 17, 2023, when workers at the MedMen dispensary on the Las Vegas Strip voted to join UFCW Local 711—reported by the international union as the first location to unionize in Nevada. That catalyzed subsequent campaigns across the state.
What’s happened since? (Retail, delivery, and a processing/oil lab shop)
- RISE (Green Thumb Industries), Henderson — first contract ratified (Oct. 9, 2024). Thirty-five workers ratified a three-year agreement covering wage increases, faster PTO accrual, predictable scheduling, and workplace protections. This was a tangible “first contract” milestone for Nevada’s unionized retail workers.
- Ayr Wellness — three dispensaries + one delivery depot — first contract ratified (Jan. 8, 2025). Roughly 120 workers across Las Vegas and Henderson voted to ratify their initial contract, with terms publicized by trade and labor outlets (e.g., armed security in stores, better scheduling, improved access to affordable health care).
- CannaPunch Brands (Las Vegas) — processing/oil lab unit unionizes (May–June 2024). A 32-person processing unit (the first cannabis processor in Nevada to join Local 711) voted to unionize—important because “oil lab” jobs sit at the manufacturing core of the market. Coverage came via MJBizDaily and Cannabis Business Times in late May; UFCW highlighted the win in June.
- Additional organizing: UFCW notes workers at Ayr Wellness (Las Vegas/Henderson) and Green Thumb Industries (Carson City) also joined in 2023, reflecting broader movement beyond one brand or city.
What kinds of workplaces are organizing—cultivation, retail, or labs?
Most publicized wins so far are retail and delivery, but the CannaPunch vote shows that manufacturing (“oil lab”) workers are organizing, too. UFCW materials and a Nevada legislative exhibit also emphasize union coverage that spans cultivation, manufacturing/processing, labs, and dispensaries in multiple states; Nevada’s 2019 exhibit even listed negotiated wage ranges for cultivator and lead lab technician roles tied to union contracts—evidence that plant-touching jobs are in scope, even if recent headlines skew retail.
Why it matters (and what workers say)
The through-line in Nevada worker statements has been safety, predictable scheduling, pay progression, and benefits:
- At RISE Henderson, workers cited the importance of better wages and protections as they ratified their first contract in 2024.
- At Ayr Wellness, Local 711 and national labor outlets spotlighted provisions like armed security for dispensaries and better scheduling—two issues that matter in high-traffic markets. READ MORE: AFL-CIO
- UFCW has also documented workplace safety concerns (e.g., heat exposure) as motivators during organizing drives in Nevada, consistent with the union’s broader worker-safety platform in cannabis.
Nevada’s legal backdrop: no LPA mandate, but it is right-to-work
A key difference from states like California, Illinois, New York, or New Jersey is that Nevada does not require licensees to sign a Labor Peace Agreement as a condition of licensure. Analyses of cannabis labor statutes summarizing LPA-mandate states do not list Nevada, and Nevada’s own cannabis regulations don’t impose such a requirement. In other words, organizing in Nevada proceeds via ordinary NLRA processes rather than a state-mandated neutrality agreement. READ MORE: onlabor.org
Nevada is a right-to-work state under NRS 613.230–613.300, meaning employees can’t be required to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment—even where a union is present. That shapes organizing dynamics and dues structures but does not bar unionization or collective bargaining.
How big is the union footprint now?
There’s no single public registry tallying unionized cannabis workplaces in Nevada, but we can say with confidence that multiple shop-level units exist across brands and functions:
- Retail/Delivery: MedMen (Las Vegas); Ayr Wellness (3 stores + 1 depot); RISE (Henderson). Contracts have been ratified at RISE and Ayr, and additional Ayr units voted to join in 2023.
- Processing/Oil Lab: CannaPunch (Las Vegas) became Local 711’s first processor unit in 2024. READ MORE: MJBizDaily
Union communications also reference Green Thumb Industries in Carson City among 2023 wins, indicating activity beyond Clark County.
What about cultivators specifically?
UFCW’s Nevada exhibit to lawmakers in 2019 listed “cultivator” wage ranges in an existing Local 711 contract (Jenny’s Dispensary/Waveseer), signaling bargaining coverage for cultivation roles at least at that time. While 2023–2025 headline wins have centered on retail and processing, UFCW’s scope (and pay tables from that exhibit) make clear that grow-side workers are within bargaining units where shops organize. If you’re tracking current grow-facility unionization, the most reliable method is to watch NLRB filings and UFCW Local 711 press notices, which are updated as each shop votes or reaches a CBA.
How Nevada compares to other “union towns”
Nevada’s broader labor climate is distinctive: Las Vegas is deeply unionized in hospitality via Culinary Workers 226, which even endorsed recreational legalization in 2016—framing legalization as a way to move commerce from the illicit market into compliant, tax-paying businesses. That labor culture provides community scaffolding for organizing, even without statutory LPA mandates in cannabis. READ MORE: Culinary Union Local 226
Nationally, the Teamsters also run cannabis campaigns (particularly in retail, delivery, and logistics). While recent Nevada cannabis wins are largely under UFCW Local 711, the Teamsters’ active national program is worth watching as the sector matures. READ MORE: International Brotherhood of Teamsters
What we’re hearing from multiple sources (and how to interpret it)
- Union presence is real and expanding. Between UFCW’s own victory posts and independent trade press (MJBizDaily, Cannabis Business Times, Ganjapreneur), there’s consistent documentation of shop-by-shop wins in 2023–2025, crossing retail, delivery, and at least one processor/oil lab. READ MORE: MJBizDaily
- Contracts are getting inked. Two Nevada first contracts—RISE (2024) and Ayr (2025)—are publicly confirmed, which is a meaningful shift from mere “election victories.”
- No LPA mandate. Organizing advances without a statewide neutrality requirement; this distinguishes Nevada from several LPA states often cited in policy analysis.
- Right-to-work context applies. Nevada law preserves unionization while protecting non-members’ right not to pay dues—an important caveat when assessing density or bargaining leverage. READ MORE: The Nevada Independent
Here’s the Deal
Nevada does have a cannabis union footprint—anchored by UFCW Local 711—that now spans retail, delivery, and manufacturing (“oil lab”) workplaces, with first contracts in place and additional units organized since 2023. There’s no statewide LPA requirement, and Nevada’s right-to-work status shapes how units form and how dues are handled, but it hasn’t stopped unionization. For cultivators, the union’s historical materials and scope indicate coverage where workers choose it, and given momentum in 2024–2025, grow-side shops could be the next frontier. Keep an eye on Local 711 announcements and NLRB filings for the latest shop-level actions. WEBSITE: ufcw.org
