Nearly all eligible workers at the Columbus-based Strawberry Fields dispensary have voted to join Teamsters Local 413, becoming the first in Ohio to affiliate with the union.

The move comes several weeks after Ohioans approved an initiative to legalize adult-use cannabis Nov. 7.

“This is the first of many proprietors we will be organizing now in Ohio, especially now that recreational cannabis is legal,” said Tony Jones, Teamsters International VP at large and president of Local 413.

“These workers are an amazing group of people who stood strong in spite of the company running a nasty anti-union campaign. I have no doubt that the tenacity, bravery, and solidarity they demonstrated during the lead-up to the election will serve them well when we start negotiations.”

"The success of our latest organizing effort is a clear message to the Ohio cannabis industry: workers demand and deserve respect," said Peter Finn, Teamsters Western Region International VP and Food Processing Division Director.

"This is just the beginning. We're on a mission to transform this industry one contract at a time, with sustainable, middle-class careers."

Photo: Benzinga edit with photos by Bits And Splits and Oleksandrum on Shutterstock.