A federal judge has struck down a voter-approved Oregon law that required licensed marijuana businesses enter into labor peace agreements with workers and mandated that employers remain neutral in discussions around unionization.

About three months after two marijuana businesses—Bubble’s Hash and Ascend Dispensary—filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon challenging the implementation of Measure 119, Judge Michael Simon on Tuesday ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, agreeing that the law unconstitutionally restricts free speech and violates the federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

Under the now defunct law, a marijuana businesses that was unable to provide proof of a labor peace agreement could have been subject a denial or revocation of their license.

The lawsuit named Gov. Tina Kotek (D), Attorney General Dan Rayfield (D) and Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission’s (OLCC) Dennis Doherty and Craig Prins as defendants.

In the order on Tuesday, the judge walked through various components of the legal arguments from both sides and ultimately agreed that the Oregon law is preempted by the NLRA, which is meant to provide protections for workers who want to unionize—but specifically preserves the right for “uninhibited, robust, and wide-open debate in labor disputes.”

By mandating neutrality from employers in labor discussions, that constitutes a violation of the NLRA, the judge ruled.

“Measure 119 does not distinguish between permissible employer speech and threatening or coercive speech,” Simon said. “Measure 119 is not limited to restricting only threatening, coercive, false, or misleading speech, but instead prohibits all speech by employers that is not ‘neutral’ toward unionization.”

On the question of whether the law violates First Amendment protections under the U.S. Constitution, the cannabis companies argued that “Measure 119 is a content-based restriction on speech that is subject to strict scrutiny, and that Defendants fail to provide a compelling government interest requiring this restriction.”

“Defendants respond that Measure 119 is a permissible regulation of commercial speech,” the order says. “Plaintiffs reply that Measure 119 does not regulate commercial speech.” The judge agreed with the plaintiffs.

Therefore, “the Court grants the requested declaratory and permanent injunctive relief, after concluding that Measure 119 is preempted by the NLRA in violation of the Supremacy Clause and violates Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights, and that all requirements for permanent injunctive relief have been satisfied.”

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Measure 119 passed with about 57 percent of the vote last November. A regional chapter of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)—UFCW Local 555—had submitted more than 160,000 signatures to qualify the measure for ballot placement last year.

During the Oregon legislature’s 2023 session, lawmakers declined to enact a bill containing similar provisions. UFCW lobbied for that legislation, and it decided to mount a campaign to let voters decide on the issue this year after that effort failed.

UFCW pressed legislators to enact a bill to codify the labor protections in 2023. And after it was effectively killed by a top House Democrat, it announced that it would be leading a recall effort to oust him.

Read the federal court’s order and judgement in the Oregon Measure 119 lawsuit below:

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Photo elements courtesy of rawpixel and Philip Steffan.

Sins are powerful – and for many – lucrative.  Native American Tribes understand their economic strength

For many Native American tribes, economic self-sufficiency has long been a priority. In the absence of traditional revenue streams, tribal governments have explored and embraced industries that leverage their unique legal status. The industries of cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol—often referred to as “sin industries”—are among the most lucrative and influential sectors globally. Their profitability and power are shaped by market size, profit margins, and their ability to influence policy and public perception. Today, Native American tribes find economic power in alcohol, cannabis and more.

Historically, alcohol and tobacco sales on reservations provided vital funding for health, education, and infrastructure. Now, a growing number of tribes are turning to cannabis and hemp as new economic engines.

Cannabis represents a new frontier. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp nationwide, opening the door for tribes to cultivate and sell hemp-based products like CBD oil and textiles. With full cannabis legalization expanding across the U.S., tribes are asserting their right to grow, process, and sell both hemp and marijuana products—even in states where such sales remain restricted.

Today, more than two dozen tribes have launched cannabis-related ventures. For instance, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe in South Dakota became the first tribe to legalize recreational cannabis on its reservation in 2015. Other tribes, such as the Puyallup Tribe in Washington and the Shinnecock Nation in New York, have opened dispensaries, processing centers, or are planning vertically integrated cannabis businesses. These enterprises not only serve tribal members but also attract customers from surrounding areas, generating much-needed revenue and job opportunities.

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The economic potential is significant. Tribal cannabis operations benefit from fewer regulatory hurdles compared to state-regulated businesses, allowing them to innovate and compete more aggressively. However, tribes still face legal uncertainties, particularly around banking and transportation across state lines.

Despite these challenges, cannabis and hemp are becoming part of a broader tribal economic development strategy. Revenues are being reinvested into housing, health clinics, addiction services, and youth programs. For many tribal leaders, cannabis is more than a business—it’s a tool for sovereignty and healing.

As federal cannabis reform continues to evolve, Native American tribes are positioning themselves at the forefront of the industry. Their early investments and regulatory innovations could help shape the national cannabis economy while continuing the longstanding tribal tradition of economic resilience and self-determination.

Patients with musculoskeletal pain experience symptomatic improvements and few side effects following the sustained use of medical cannabis, according to newly data published in the scientific journal Cureus.

Investigators affiliated with the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia assessed the safety and efficacy of long-term cannabis use in a cohort of 129 patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain. Study participants were registered in Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis access program and were assessed for at least one year. Over three-quarters of study subjects reported using at least one type of cannabis product daily, with most (64 percent) choosing to use topical formulations.

Consistent with prior studies, the majority (93 percent) of pain patients said that cannabis improved their primary symptoms. Cognitive and motor effects were minimal for most users, with 72 percent reporting “no impact” on their thinking, coordination, or motor functions.

Some 40 percent of study participants acknowledged reducing their use of traditional analgesics, including opioids, following medical cannabis initiation – a finding that is also consistent with other studies.

“Long-term MC [medical cannabis] use is a stable and well-tolerated option for managing chronic musculoskeletal pain, with high patient-reported efficacy and minimal cognitive impact,” the study’s authors concluded. “These findings support its role in pain management while highlighting the need for further research on optimal dosing and long-term safety.”

NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano added: “These findings add to the growing body of evidence that cannabis is effective in the treatment of multiple conditions, including chronic pain, and that it possesses a safety profile that is often superior to traditional medications, like opioids. As legal access continues to expand, one would expect more patients to integrate cannabis products into their pain management strategies in a manner that reduces their overall disease burden as well as their reliance on opioids and other analgesic medications.”

According to data published last year in the Journal of Cannabis Research, more than one in five patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain acknowledge having tried cannabis for pain management their symptoms, with over 90 percent of them describing it as effective.

The full text of the study, “Patterns, efficacy, and cognitive effects of medical cannabis use in chronic musculoskeletal pain patients,” appears in Cureus. Additional information on cannabis and pain management is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.