The New Jersey Assembly Labor Committee has voted 5 to 1 to advance Assembly Bill 4182, a measure to expand labor rights for cannabis industry workers.
Sponsored by Assemblymembers Wayne DeAngelo (D) and Reginald Atkins (D) and filed in April 2024, the legislation would grant cannabis employees protections similar to those enjoyed by other private-sector workers under federal and state labor laws.
Currently, certain cannabis employees—particularly those working for licensed cultivators—lack safeguards against unfair labor practices due to their exclusion from the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). AB 4182 closes this gap by empowering the New Jersey State Board of Mediation to oversee labor relations within the cannabis industry. This includes preventing unfair labor practices and ensuring collective bargaining rights.
If enacted, the bill would prohibit cannabis employers from interfering with union activities, discriminating against workers for exercising their rights, or refusing to negotiate in good faith. Similarly, labor organizations representing cannabis workers would be barred from coercing employees or obstructing the collective bargaining process. The legislation also mandates that cannabis employers provide union representatives with access to employees and workplace facilities.
In cases of violations, the Board of Mediation could order remedies such as reinstatement, back pay, and financial penalties. Employers who fail to comply with information-sharing requirements could face fines of up to $5,000 per day.
Supporters argue that the bill brings long-overdue fairness to cannabis industry workers.
For the full text of AB 4182, click here.
