Trulieve named Dirty Dozen employer, MA CCC Chair on our podcast, The Nation cover, and our Cannabis Workers Awards Event!
The cannabis worker safety movement heats up
It’s an exciting time for supporters of cannabis worker safety. This last week, a national worker safety organization and their local chapter highlighted the cannabis worker safety issue and are organizing and rallying to bring changes to the Massachusetts cannabis industry. In addition, a national print magazine, The Nation put the cannabis worker safety issue on their latest cover and quoted our work directly. Also this week, MA Cannanis Chair, Shannon O’Brien will be joining our podcast/show as a guest on Tuesday night. Additionally on Sunday night, our first-ever Cannabis Workers Awards. As if that isn’t enough, Harvard University also hosted a cannabis worker safety event earlier today.
Let’s hit all of these latest developments.
National COSH and MASSCOSH cast a spotlight on cannabis worker safety
Last week, Trulieve Cannabis was named one of this year’s “Dirty Dozen” Employers by the National Council of Safety and Health with their local chapter holding an event outside the State House on Friday.
Lorna McMurrey's mother joined Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health (MASSCOSH) and the AFL/CIO in Boston to memorialize local workers who have died. Check out the new MASSCOSH report, “Dangerous Jobs Killed 51 Workers in Massachusetts Last Year”
McMurrey who was only 27 years old passed away after a work shift at Trulieve in Holyoke, Massachusetts, from asthma attacks that seem to have been caused by inhaling ground cannabis dust at work.
The Nation, “Growing Danger” cover story!
Our Lorna McMurrey Trulieve coverage is quoted in the latest issue of The Nation magazine.
Some excerpts from the cover article:
Rivers, who has, as of this writing, successfully stalled unionization attempts by workers at several Trulieve facilities in Massachusetts, made over $8 million in total compensation in 2021, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
*McMurrey’s death at the Trulieve facility went unreported in the press for most of 2022, until Mike Crawford broke the story that September on his podcast The Young Jurks. It was hardly the first time that Crawford, a veteran cannabis activist whose podcast covers the politics of the industry, has reported on such workplace concerns. “Just talking to these workers, their safety is not the priority,” he said.
Crawford noted that weed workers have told him about health concerns ranging from rashes to respiratory problems. “When the new workers come into the shop, the first thing that they have to tell them is, ‘Be prepared. You can go get some antihistamine, go get some [over-the-counter] medication, or go to the doctor,’” Crawford said. “Some people are sticking paper towels up their noses.”
CCC Chair to join us as a guest on The Young Jurks!
Massachusetts Cannabis Control Chair Shannon O’Brien to join us as a guest, The Young Jurks live show and podcast on Tuesday night at 6:30 pm!
Taking your phone calls and questions! Watch live on our Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, or youtube.
Please join us to honor local workers! The Young Jurks Cannabis Workers Awards Show
Sunday, May 7th at The Rockwell, Somerville, MA
Hosted by Mike Crawford with Drew Weisse (UFCW 1459), Danny Carson, Caroline Pineau (Stem Haverhill) Ed DeSousa (RiverRun Gardens) and Saskia Vann James (MRCC). With live music from The Teezers
Sponsored by UFCW 1459, UFCW 1455, Mohawk Glass, Massachusetts Recreational Consumer Council, RiverRun Gardens, and Stem Haverhill,
Venue: The Rockwell, 255 Elm Street, Somerville, MA
Buy tickets/support the Cannabis Workers Awards here!
Half of any profits (if any) from this event will be distributed to special honorees with the remainder to directly support The Young Jurks!
This Awards Show is free for cannabis workers that show their state agent badge or photo of their badge at the door.