Cannabis stores calling on province for better security
Posted August 8, 2025 4:54 pm.
Last Updated August 9, 2025 11:24 am.
Cannabis stores have become commonplace, but are workers being protected? Some say there should be stricter safety protocols in place, as a new union campaign launches, pushing the province for change.
UFCW Local 832 has started the Let’s Be Blunt campaign, calling on cannabis workers to submit testimonies about safety concerns.
“If we could get heightened security, it would be for the betterment, if we could see that by 2026 it would be really major for the cannabis industry,” said Adrienne Guillou, the manager of Flint and Embers Cannabis.
They plan on presenting the feedback to the province this coming fall, to push for meaningful improvements for all workers in the cannabis retail sector.
“Negative things can come up, some areas may not need it as much, maybe rural areas a bit less, but I think it’s a good idea to help us screen people that come in, make sure people are of age,” said Mateo Lopez, the manager of the Vault Cannabis.
Guillou adding, “For me, what I’m concerned about is safety, safety in having security guards on site, and then removing window coverings so that you can actually see what’s going on if a situation were to take place.”
Guillou says one thing to ensure staff safety would be to remove mandatory window coverings.
“When you consider that a regular cannabis shop is going to have one budtender on shift with no security guard and window coverings, it creates an unsafe scenario and an unsafe environment for that employee if they were to deal with an unruly customer and a difficult customer scenario,” said Guillou.
The province says they’re willing to consider potential changes to security measures. A statement from Justice Minister Matt Wiebe reads in part, “I’m committed to listening to workers in the cannabis industry and hearing their ideas for how we can further enhance safety and security.”
CityNews spoke to several other stores, which said increased security at storefronts is top of the list for things they want to see changed.
