All the toking Teamster jokes aside, and the shaky nature of a new industry, it came down to basics for Marchetti: "They're workers. They're working at a place and haven't been busted. They're working within the existing laws in California. They approached us about organizing. We organized them and got a contract."

That's pretty straightforward. I'm guessing that we'll see more union organizing in the world of marijuana — from producers of equipment (lights, hydroponic systems) to growers and retail sales. It's a mostly place-specific industry. There are only 16 states where medical marijuana is legal so it would be difficult to pack up and move elsewhere with your business. And I don't think they're allowing truckloads of the substance across state lines.

Maybe the old International Ladies Garment Workers Union anthem will be appropriate and medical marijuana patients will be able to "look for the union label" when purchasing their medication.

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