BUTTE, MT — Cannabis workers at multiple dispensaries in uptown and downtown Butte, Mont., voted to join UFCW Local 1889 on Sept. 25, marking the first time cannabis workers in Montana have unionized since the legalization of cannabis in the state in 2021. However, sources confirm the historic organizing effort has completely stalled as workers remain deadlocked over whether their official union logo should feature a marijuana leaf or maintain "professional dignity."
The impasse began immediately after the unanimous vote when budtender Tyler Kowalski suggested the logo incorporate "sick gradient effects" reminiscent of a Grateful Dead poster. This prompted a four-hour emergency meeting that devolved into what witnesses described as "the kind of philosophical debate you'd expect from people who sample the inventory."
"We've narrowed it down to 47 potential fonts," said union organizer Derek Martinez, surrounded by crumpled sketches featuring various interpretations of cannabis leaves merged with solidarity fists. "Comic Sans sparked a walkout last Tuesday. We lost three good people that day."
The union, which initially organized due to workplace safety issues, including mold and the lack of running water, has held 73 logo committee meetings, generated 1,200 mockups, and spent $14,000 on graphic design consultations. Meanwhile, the mold situation has evolved into what one worker described as "basically a living wall feature at this point."
Other proposed logo elements have included: a bong shaped like Montana, the state bird smoking a joint, and what meeting minutes cryptically refer to as "that thing Shane drew when he was really fucking high." The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) has been particularly active in organizing cannabis workers, having organized tens of thousands of cannabis workers as part of their Cannabis Workers Rising campaign, though none have reported similar logo-related delays.
"My nephew knows Photoshop," offered customer Margaret Henderson, 67, after waiting 45 minutes while staff debated whether their potential motto "United We Stand, United We're Stoned" was "too on the nose."