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Securing Florida’s Cannabis Industry: Compre­hensive Security Solutions

Florida’s medical cannabis industry is growing rapidly, creating new security challenges for dispen­saries throughout the state. Not only do you have to protect your inventory against theft, but you also have to follow strict regula­tions related to the purchasing, storage, promotion, and distri­b­ution of cannabis. Bates Security offers custom dispensary security solutions to help you manage risk and protect your assets.

After reading this guide, you should have a better under­standing of these cannabis dispensary security topics:

  • Under­standing the security needs of cannabis dispensaries
  • Key compo­nents of an effective dispensary security plan
  • Advanced security technologies for cannabis businesses
  • Compliance with Florida state regulations

Learn how to protect your dispensary with a robust security system designed by Bates Security.

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Founded by a former police officer, Bates Security offers police-trusted security systems for dispensaries in Florida. Contact us today to discuss your dispensary security needs with an experienced professional.

Understanding the Security Needs of Cannabis Dispensaries

The cannabis industry is one of the most tightly controlled indus­tries in Florida. State law prohibits recre­ational cannabis use, making medical cannabis products extremely attractive to thieves inter­ested in selling them via illegal channels. Product diversion is also a signif­icant concern. Diversion occurs when legally purchased cannabis ends up in the hands of someone without a medical card.

Regulatory compliance is one of the biggest challenges of owning a Florida dispensary. State law requires dispensary owners to store cannabis in a vault or locked room. You must also have at least two employees on the premises at all times. Few businesses have to follow such strict regula­tions, making dispen­saries especially vulnerable to security problems.

Key Components of an Effective Dispensary Security Plan

To protect high-value inventory and keep your employees safe, you need a compre­hensive cannabis security plan. Your security system should have the following components:

  • Surveil­lance: Video surveil­lance allows you to keep an eye on your business even when you’re not there. Advanced surveil­lance systems offer remote access, making it easy to check on your dispensary whether you’re down the street or states away. You can also store surveil­lance footage in the cloud.
  • Access control: Access control systems allow you to control who has access to each part of your business. For example, you can create several levels of employee access, limiting the number of people who can enter secure areas of your dispensary. 
  • Alarm systems: Compre­hensive alarm systems detect threats and deter would-be criminals from entering your property. An alarm system typically includes motion detectors, smart locks, window-break alarms, and surveil­lance cameras.
  • Employee training: Employees are one of the most important compo­nents of an effective security system. However, they need training to identify potential threats and under­stand what to do when those threats present themselves.

Advanced Security Technologies for Cannabis Businesses

Previ­ously, industry profes­sionals relied on manual processes to keep their dispen­saries secure. Thanks to techno­logical advance­ments, it’s much easier to develop compre­hensive cannabis dispensary security plans. Bates Security has always been ahead of the curve, so we offer cloud-based surveil­lance and AI-powered analytics to help you keep your business secure.

Cloud-based surveil­lance allows you to monitor your dispensary without purchasing expensive video storage equipment, reducing your overall opera­tional costs. With a cloud-based system, you can also use remote monitoring for extra peace of mind. Artificial intel­li­gence helps us make accurate threat predic­tions, increasing the effec­tiveness of our security plans.

Compliance With Florida State Regulations

According to Title XXIX Chapter 381 of the 2024 Florida Statutes, dispen­saries must follow these regulations:

  • Maintain a fully opera­tional” security system
  • Install cameras at all entrances and exits
  • Retain surveil­lance footage for at least 45 days
  • Display the time and date on all recorded images
  • Install cameras in grow rooms, storage rooms, point-of-sale rooms, and other controlled areas

Bates Security can help you maintain compliance by analyzing your operation and designing a custom security system to meet your dispensary’s needs.

Why Choose Bates Security

Bates Security is one of the top-ranked security systems in the country, so you can rely on us for expert knowledge of the cannabis industry and its security-related challenges. In addition to extensive expertise, we offer excep­tional customer service and know how to use advanced technology to make your premises more secure.

Is Your Business Safe? Learn More About Our Security Services!

Bates Security has local customer service that cares, so you can rest easy knowing that an expert is always looking out for your business. Contact us today to learn how a custom dispensary security system can protect your assets.