Raid on Los Angeles marijuana grow has Teamsters up in arms

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A raid by local police on a marijuana cultivation facility in Los Angeles has a chapter of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters crying foul.

A spokeswoman for Teamsters Joint Council 42 called the raid on THC Design “ridiculous,” according to a news release.

THC Design runs three cultivation operations in the L.A. area, according to the release, and has been raided twice since April.

In the latest raid, law enforcement agents seized cannabis plants based on an allegation the company was stealing power to fuel the grow. The raid resulted in a $2 million loss for THC Design, according to the release.

The company decided it would have to shutter the grow, meaning 50 employees – who had all recently been unionized with the Teamsters – will be out of work.

THC Design reached an accord with the Teamsters last week on a labor peace agreement, according to the release.

“This business owner has been doing everything he has to under the law,” Kristin Heidelbach, a Teamsters international representative, said in a statement. “(Police) are finding ridiculous reasons to go in and do this.”

Organized labor has made inroads with the cannabis industry in multiple states, and the Teamsters have signed labor peace agreements with “multiple” California companies, according to the release.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union is also a staunch ally of marijuana businesses.