Medical Marijuana Firm Reaches Deal With Union: Media Report

Medical marijuana will not arrive in Maryland until next year, but a Bethesda company has already reached an agreement with a labor union over pay and benefits for employees who will grow, process and sell pot.

Bethesda Biomedical Inc. has hammered out a deal with Local 400 of the United Food and Commercial Workers that covers wages, health care and pensions for the company’s future employees, the Washington Business Journal reported. The company has applied to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission for a license to grow marijuana and operate a medical marijuana dispensary.

Starting next year, the commission plans to grant licenses to up to 15 companies to grow marijuana in Maryland.

Along with Bethesda Biomedical, several other companies are planning to set up marijuana operations in the state. On Monday, officials in Washington County approved plans by Green Thumb Industries LLC to build a medical marijuana center near Hagerstown, radio station WTOP reported Wednesday.

Green Thumb officials said they expect to invest about $12 million into the local economy through development and job creation.