Orange County's First Pot Shop Is First To Unionize

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Orange County's first licensed medical marijuana dispensary made history again, now being the first store of its kind to join a labor union.

South Coast Safe Access at 1900 Warner Avenue in Santa Ana signed a labor contract with its nearly two dozen workers.

Owners agreed to give their employees an hourly wage starting $13.50, health benefits, paid vacation and pension contributions.

"More and more it's becoming difficult to be able to make ends meet, not only at the state level, at the national level, but even locally here in Orange County. Cos t of living is increasing consistently. So it's important whenever we can that jobs are created that are at a livable wage," Santa Ana City Councilman David Benavides said.

The workers there are now members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 324, which represents pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy clerks.