The tension between organized labor and cannabis MSOs (Multi-State Operators) just hit a boiling point on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UFCW Local 27 announced on Monday that it has filed federal unfair labor practice charges against The Apothecarium in Salisbury and its parent company, TerrAscend Corp.
The charges, filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on May 1, center on an incident that sounds like classic workplace drama but carries heavy federal weight: the alleged removal of union materials from a worker bulletin board.
The “Bulletin Board” Incident
According to the union, an assistant general manager at the Salisbury dispensary removed union flyers from a designated workplace area—a move Local 27 claims is a clear-cut violation of the National Labor Relations Act.
Under federal law, employees have the guaranteed right to distribute union information in these spaces. Removing them, the union argues, constitutes illegal interference with the workers’ right to organize.
“Federal law is federal law,” said Local 27 President Jason Chorpenning. “Workers have the right to organize without interference, intimidation, or retaliation. We will not tolerate violations of those rights.”
A Long Road to a First Contract
The workers at the Salisbury Apothecarium have been represented by Local 27 since the fall of 2024. For nearly two years, they have been pushing for a first union contract to codify:
- Fair wages
- Workplace protections
- Standardized benefits
However, the union alleges that TerrAscend has chosen “delay and deny” tactics over good-faith bargaining. The press release claims the company has spent “countless thousands of dollars” on professional union-busting legal firms—funds the union suggests would have been better spent on the employees themselves.
Financial Friction
The union didn’t pull any punches regarding TerrAscend’s recent financial performance, framing the company’s legal spending as a sign of “misplaced priorities.”
Local 27 pointed to a stark decline in the company’s valuation, noting that TerrAscend’s stock—which once traded above $15 per share—now sits at approximately $0.69, having dipped as low as $0.30 earlier this year.
Despite the federal filing, Local 27 remains optimistic about the finish line. The union stated it hopes to complete bargaining in the coming weeks to finally secure that elusive first contract.
For now, the ball is in the NLRB’s court to determine if TerrAscend’s actions warrant federal remedies. Neither TerrAscend nor The Apothecarium has issued a formal public response to the charges as of Monday morning.
