Heath Scott, owner of 7 Point Farm and Apothecary holds cannabis flower at his business in Mt. Juliet , Tenn., Friday, May 2, 2025.
Los Angeles, California – A recent report from the UCLA Labor Center has cast a revealing light on the conditions facing cannabis workers in California’s sprawling, rapidly growing industry. Titled High Stakes – The State of the California Cannabis Workforce, the May 2025 publication outlines a sector marked by low pay, high turnover, and frequent violations of labor law—particularly in wage and hour protections.
The legal cannabis industry in California accounted for 78,618 shift workers in 2024. But that figure represents only a fraction of the total workforce. Factoring in unlicensed operations, the report estimates there may be as many as 235,854 cannabis workers statewide—leaving more than 150,000 employed in what amounts to a legal gray area, with even fewer protections and limited recourse.
Even among workers within the licensed market, the report paints a sobering picture. Nearly half reported experiencing wage theft, with complaints ranging from bounced checks and late payments to being asked to work off the clock. Twenty-nine percent said they had been paid late by an employer, while 14 percent reported receiving no pay record at all.
Demographically, the workforce skews young and diverse. Two-thirds of workers are under 40, and nearly half are women. A significant portion—23 percent—identify as LGBTQ+. Roughly 8 percent have been previously incarcerated. The median hourly wage across the industry was $19.50, though many rely on food assistance and hold multiple jobs to get by.
Though the challenges are significant, the legal industry has also seen higher-than-average unionization. Approximately 20 percent of cannabis workers are union members—a notable contrast to the state’s overall union rates in retail and agriculture. That organizing power may provide a rare avenue for redress in an otherwise unstable landscape.
Still, the report highlights the legal and institutional gaps that leave workers vulnerable—especially the tens of thousands employed by unlicensed businesses. Federal law continues to classify cannabis as a Schedule I drug, meaning there is no legal pathway for migrant workers to participate in the licensed market. Even lawful permanent residents risk jeopardizing their status if they seek work in the industry.
As a result, undocumented workers and others on the margins remain especially vulnerable to exploitation, often unable or unwilling to report violations for fear of immigration consequences. Despite the clear rights guaranteed by California labor law—minimum wage, overtime, meal and rest breaks, and timely pay—many workers remain unaware of these protections or unable to enforce them.
The report underscores the stakes for a workforce caught between competing legal frameworks and economic pressures. For those within the legal market, union efforts and public scrutiny may offer some safeguards. But for the rest, lasting change may require action not only in Sacramento—but in Washington.
