A Brooklyn cannabis retailer has filed a federal lawsuit challenging New York’s requirement that marijuana businesses sign labor peace agreements, arguing the rule violates federal labor law and the U.S. Constitution.
Hybrid NYC, which operates the Gotham dispensary, claims the mandate effectively forces businesses into agreements with one dominant union, Local 338, and limits their ability to educate employees on alternative options. The company argues that the policy infringes on its rights and restricts workers’ freedom to choose their own representation.
In a statement, Gotham co-founder Joanne Wilson said the case goes beyond one business.
“We are proceeding with legal action to not only protect our business, and the industry, but more importantly, our right to be heard,” Wilson said. “As entrepreneurs, we should not be suppressed from actively participating in decisions being made that will directly impact the very employees and/or communities we aim to serve.”
Wilson added that the law “stifles the growth of this young industry and cuts off vital revenue meant to go to underserved communities and those harmed as part of the war on drugs.”
She emphasized there has been no disruption to operations. “We are open, strong, and focused. We will not be thrown off course by bad actors, political pressure, or attempts to silence progress.”
The dispute now heads to the National Labor Relations Board, as Hybrid challenges unionization efforts and the broader regulatory framework shaping New York’s cannabis market.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].