Kentucky Cannabis Dispensary Security: Advanced Solutions for Protecting Your Business

The cannabis industry is heavily regulated, so if you want your business to succeed, you must make security a priority. Every dispensary in Kentucky must have fixed cameras at entrances and exits, locked storage areas, and a profes­sionally monitored alarm system to deter theft and other crimes. You also have to follow cannabis regula­tions related to record­keeping and waste disposal.

Bates Security created a guide to cannabis dispensary security to help you better under­stand these topics:

Follow the tips below to enhance security and make your dispensary a success.

How to Utilize Access-Control Systems

Access control is one of the most important consid­er­a­tions when preparing a cannabis dispensary security plan. A compre­hensive access-control system limits entry to secure areas, protecting your inventory and making it easier to comply with Kentucky’s dispensary regula­tions. This type of security also allows you to track the comings and goings of employees and customers.

Keep Watch With 24-Hour Video Surveillance

High-quality video surveil­lance helps prevent crime and catch perpe­trators, making it an important component of our cannabis security solutions. Surveil­lance systems use cameras, monitors, sensors, and other devices to see what’s happening at your dispensary. With an advanced surveil­lance system, owners and managers can even monitor a dispensary when they’re not on the premises.

Protect Your Property With Fire Detection

Fire protection systems are one of the most important dispensary security solutions, as they can save lives and prevent property destruction. As soon as the system detects a fire, it produces an audible alert, giving employees time to evacuate. A compre­hensive security system also includes sprin­klers and other compo­nents designed to minimize the damage caused by commercial fires.

Fire detection is especially helpful when your dispensary is closed, as a monitoring service can summon the fire department at any hour of the day or night.

Implement Panic Buttons and Alarms

Cannabis dispen­saries carry high-value merchandise, so they’re a common target for thieves. To protect employees and prevent criminal activity, your security system should include a variety of panic buttons and alarms. Panic buttons allow employees to request assis­tance from police officers, firefighters, or paramedics.

Integrating these buttons into your security system makes it possible to stop a crime in progress or get immediate medical attention for a customer or an employee suffering a medical emergency. You may even be able to furnish your employees with wearable panic buttons, elimi­nating the need for them to race to a wall panel in a tense situation.

Installing a compre­hensive alarm system also has several benefits for dispen­saries. If someone tries to steal your inventory or commit some other type of crime, a loud alarm might startle them enough to stop the crime in progress. Alarm systems also alert you to fires, water damage, and other emergencies, ensuring you can get help immediately.

Once you install panic buttons and alarms, it’s important to train employees how to use them safely. You don’t want several false alarms every day because staff members don’t know what to do. Integrate this training into your onboarding process to ensure that new hires also know how to operate these key compo­nents of a cannabis dispensary security system.

Defend Data With Cybersecurity

Under Kentucky law, cannabis dispen­saries must maintain detailed records about their customers and trans­ac­tions. These records contain names, dates of birth, physical addresses, and other private data. Customers rely on you to protect their infor­mation from hackers and other threats, so it’s important to incor­porate cyber­se­curity into your overall security plan.

Zero trust is a type of network protection built on the idea that you shouldn’t trust anyone when it comes to your data — not even the people who already work for you. This approach relies on strict controls to limit access to confi­dential data. You can also protect business and customer data by securing your wireless network and training employees to avoid phishing attempts and other threats.