Cannabis Teamsters in Chicago Ratify Contract

Dispensary 33 Workers Secure Higher Wages, Better Health Care, and Job Protections

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:04pm

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After five months of negotiations, cannabis workers at Dispensary 33 in Chicago have unanimously ratified their first five-year contract with Teamsters Local 777. The contract secures higher wages, improved health care benefits, and strong job protections against unjust discipline or termination for the workers.

Why it matters

This agreement is a significant milestone for the cannabis industry, as it demonstrates the growing power of workers to organize and collectively bargain for better working conditions. It also highlights the Teamsters' efforts to expand their reach into the cannabis sector and secure stable, well-paying jobs for their members.

The details

The contract was ratified less than a year after Dispensary 33 workers overwhelmingly voted to join Teamsters Local 777. Over the past four years, the local has secured collective bargaining agreements for hundreds of workers in the Illinois cannabis industry. The new contract at Dispensary 33 includes higher wages, improved health care benefits, and strong job protections against unjust discipline or termination.

  • The contract was ratified on March 16, 2026.
  • Dispensary 33 workers voted to join Teamsters Local 777 less than a year ago.

The players

Teamsters Local 777

A labor union representing workers in a wide variety of industries throughout the Chicago area, founded in 1937.

Jim Glimco

The President of Teamsters Local 777.

Lyzette Soto

A Local 777 member and award-winning budtender at Dispensary 33.

Jesse Case

The Director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division.

Dispensary 33

A cannabis dispensary in Chicago where the workers have ratified a new contract with Teamsters Local 777.

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What they’re saying

“This contract recognizes the vital roles these workers play in the success of this business, and it ensures they are treated with the respect they deserve.”

— Jim Glimco, President of Local 777

“Cannabis workers across the country are organizing to win better wages, stronger benefits, and real career opportunities. Our members at Dispensary 33 are proving what's possible when workers stand together and demand a fair contract. Agreements like this help turn cannabis jobs into stable careers.”

— Jesse Case, Director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division

“This was honestly one of the hardest and most fulfilling experiences I've ever gone through. We are passionate and proud of the community we've created to guarantee better conditions in our workplace!”

— Lyzette Soto, Local 777 member and award-winning budtender

The takeaway

This contract represents a significant victory for cannabis workers in Chicago, demonstrating the power of collective bargaining to secure better wages, benefits, and job protections. It also signals the growing influence of the Teamsters union in the cannabis industry, as they work to transform these jobs into stable, well-paying careers.