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The cannabis cultivation industry is the newest budding field of dreams for unionization, says an Alberta labour leader.

The United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 401, said it’s sending up smoke signals to those employed by licensed pot producers and processors in the province.

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“We are actively pursuing organizing leads in the cannabis industry because it is growing,” said Michael Hughes, spokesman for UFCW Local 401, which counts 32,000 members in Alberta.

The union, he said, has been fielding calls from some workers in the sector concerned mainly about working conditions and employer treatment.

“There’s a lot of hiccups and issues with workers’ conditions and rights as they navigate a new industry,” said Hughes.

According to Health Canada, out of 245 licensed producers and processors throughout the country, 29 are located in Alberta, a province that hosts some of the largest facilities such as those located at Leduc and Medicine Hat.