With the introduction of legal medicinal cannabis in Jamaica, there has been a surge of businesses that have opened their doors to take advantage of this rapidly growing industry. Failing to adequately plan and budget for security can have devastating consequences for such businesses, new and existing.
As the industry continues to grow and legislation continues to evolve, it is critical that cannabis business owners not only ensure they are compliant with current security regulations but also stay ahead of the curve.
Dispensaries especially, tend to be targeted more frequently. Robbers sometimes perceive them as easy targets, because they store and handle large amounts of cash . Many dispensaries only accept cash because payment processors and financial institutions aren’t willing to work with them. This is primarily because cannabis is still deemed an illegal substance under the laws that govern the actions of financial institutions. As legislation evolves, cannabis businesses will be able to work more easily with banks, in turn reducing the amount of cash on site and erasing the dollar signs in the opportunistic thieves’ eyes.
However, cash isn’t the only thing thieves seek when they break into dispensaries. There’s also the product itself. Protecting it – and providing peace of mind to the facilities’ owners and occupants – is a concern for dispensaries, grow operations and warehouses. Thieves are motivated by the opportunity to make even more fast cash through reselling the product found onsite.
While the specifics of necessary systems and protocols will vary depending on location and type of business, generally, compliance standards require security systems that ensure:
- Marijuana access is regulated.
- Product is secure (during handling, storage, and transportation).
- Inventory is tracked (meaning even plants that are defective or slated to be destroyed need to be under surveillance).
- Notifications are sent in the event of a security incident.
- Digital records are kept and protected
- Employees are properly screened and trained
Cannabis businesses need security and APSIL has created protective plans dedicated exclusively to the Cannabis industry which not only take into consideration local regulations but also international security protocols. Our offerings are a mix of people ,systems technology, and training of employees on how to handle security breaches and any other situations the may arise at grow farms as well as dispensaries. For more information and to find out how we can increase the security of your Cannabis business, email secured@apsilsecurityservices.com or call us at (876)224-0718 or (954)666-2130.
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