Close-up shot of cannabis plant.

Cannabis Dispensaries Security Solutions

In 2021, the cannabis industry in the US had collective revenue of $25 billion. With the legalization of cannabis in most states, the legal marijuana industry saw a major boom and grew manifolds. It continues to multiply every year and is projected to reach $40 billion in 2026 as cannabis dispensaries open up in every corner of the country.

Today, cannabis dispensaries are easily found on the map and are taking the legal marijuana industry to a whole new level of profitability. This increased profitability has made these dispensaries a popular target for anything from minor thefts to rogue robberies.

To that end, it’s absolutely necessary for marijuana dispensaries to have a proper on-site security plan to secure their products and other valuable items in the dispensary, including the cash on hand. The key to making an airtight security plan for cannabis retail facilities is to ensure that it’s scalable and implementable.

Here’s all you need to know about cannabis dispensaries’ security plan to get started.

State Security Regulations for Cannabis Dispensaries

Before you make a security plan for your cannabis dispensary, you should learn about all the state security requirements that you need to abide by. Depending on the city and state you operate in, you may have to take specific steps to ensure lawful operations.

For example, state regulations can lay out the minimum security camera resolution and frames per second that you need to have in your facility. They may also require you to store the footage for a minimum of three months to one year. Some states also have specific stipulations about footage storage, i.e. cloud storage isn’t allowed.

On top of this, the state requirements may also include specific areas of the facility to be monitored at all times, such as the entrance of the dispensary. When making a plan for your cannabis dispensary, the first step you need to take is to become well aware of all the state requirements that you need to follow to protect your inventory from theft and misuse.

Best Practices for Cannabis Dispensary Security

While you may be required by law to follow tight security for your cannabis dispensary, it’s also important for your own profitability to ensure that you have a solid security plan in place. This is why it’s important to check the industry’s best practices when creating the plan so that you can implement all the things that can make your facility safer.

Here’s a rundown of all the best practices that are implemented in top marijuana dispensaries in the US.

Securing the Storage Space

It’s extremely important to secure the area of your dispensary where you keep the actual products. There are two ways to do this properly: Access control systems and extra locks.

When it comes to access control systems, it’s important to get them placed in controlled areas of the dispensary so only authorized personnel can access them. This system will require the personnel to enter their credentials and will only be granted access to the storage if they’re authorized. This can help you keep track of who accesses the storage facility at all times, including when you’re closed.

On top of this system, you should also add extra locks in your cannabis storage space. These locks will make it impossible (or at the very least difficult) for unauthorized personnel to reach your products.

CCTV camera mounted on the wall

Personnel Background Checks

When operating in the marijuana industry, you need to be extra wary of employee theft, as it can result in a major loss of revenue for you. This is why it’s extremely important to hire personnel that are reliable and unlikely to steal your products (for personal use or to sell it for a profit).

It’ll help you to run a background check to see if the potential candidates have done anything illegal in recent years or have a history of marijuana abuse. This will greatly minimize your risk of loss as your employees will not misuse their access to your dispensary.

Intrusion Alarms

It can be very difficult to have security personnel monitor your premises at all times. For this reason, the best practice to deal with this problem is to have proper intrusion alarms in place that can be activated when the dispensary is left unsupervised. These alarm systems are the perfect way to ensure that nobody attempts to break into your dispensary with the intent to steal.

These alarms can only be deactivated with proper credentials that are only available for authorized personnel. They also immediately alert you and the authorities of possible intrusions so you can take timely action.

Activated intrusion alarm.

Secure Cannabis Transportation

As the cannabis industry continues to grow and you open up more dispensaries, you should have a plan in place to source your products safely and bring them to your facilities without the threat of theft. This is possible by getting a secure, armored van that cannot be broken into and provides maximum security against the thief’s weapons.

Video Surveillance

Finally, you should have proper video security and surveillance solutions in place. Not only are you mandated by the state to have this monitoring on your facility, but you also need it for your own security. Here are some things you should keep in mind when choosing a business security system for your marijuana dispensary:

  • The video quality should be high-resolution so that you can easily zoom in on all frames and get all the information you need.
  • The video should have a high frames per second rate so that your quality isn’t compromised.
  • Get enough cameras to secure the entrance, exit, and warehouse of your dispensary.
  • Choose a system that also records the audio along with the video.
  • It should allow you to monitor your premises remotely if needed.
  • The system should provide access logs and proper storage for all your footage.
Security camera mounted on the wall.

Find Quality Cannabis Dispensary Security Systems

If you are looking for ways to improve the security of your cannabis dispensary, we can help you with it. As a security system supplier in Indianapolis, we provide reliable and high-quality security systems, smart devices, and residential home automation systems at Max Video Security.

We have a diverse range of services, including security systems, home theaters, security cameras, and other business security systems. Our team can handle all your security concerns and provide you with all the tech support you need to ensure your complete safety.

Get in touch with us now and make your cannabis dispensary safer today!