The Washington State Senate voted 29 to 20 today to approve a bill that would grant collective bargaining rights to agricultural cannabis workers.
House Bill 1141, which already passed the House in March by a 55 to 40 vote, will now be sent to Governor Bob Ferguson for consideration.
If signed into law, or allowed to become law without a signature, the bill would place cannabis agricultural workers—those involved in cultivating, trimming, curing, and sorting marijuana—under the jurisdiction of the state’s Public Employment Relations Commission. This change would formally extend collective bargaining rights to these workers, aligning them with labor protections available in other industries.
The legislation outlines the process for selecting bargaining representatives, resolving disputes, and addressing unfair labor practices. It specifically excludes supervisors and managers with hiring or disciplinary authority and applies only to workers employed at licensed cannabis farms. Employees at standalone processing facilities are not covered unless the facility is co-located with a licensed grow site.
Supporters of the bill say it addresses a major gap in worker protections for employees in the state’s marijuana industry, who are currently not covered by federal labor laws due to marijuana’s federal status.
