Whether you’re a grower, distributor, or reseller, video security is a vital part of your business to ensure your property, inventory, and assets are secure. With such a lucrative industry, comes the challenges and complexity of navigating through federal and state compliance laws.

This blog post discusses three ways cloud surveillance provides a streamlined and straightforward solution.

Cannabis Compliance at a Glance 

From CBD oil to cannabis beverages, the industry is booming, making it an exciting time for business owners no matter where they are in the distribution chain.

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In 2017, North American consumers spent $9 billion on legal cannabis products. In Colorado alone, it’s become a $1.3 billion industry. By 2021, that number is expected to reach $31.4 billion nationwide.

The laws and regulations for growing and dispensing medical marijuana vary by state, but security camera laws for all states include:

  • Each facility must have a complete IP-compatible video surveillance system with security cameras that produce a minimum resolution of 640×470 pixels.
  • There must be a security camera installed in every room of the facility where the marijuana is growing.
  • All security camera video must be recorded continuously for 24 hours a day.
  • All recorded surveillance video must be stored and kept for a minimum of 45 days on the video recording device. All recorded video is subject to inspection at any time by any liquor control board employee or law enforcement officer, and a copy of the video must be provided upon request.
  • Storage of video recordings shall be kept for a minimum of 40 calendar days – some states require up to 90 days.
  • The physical media or storage device on which surveillance recordings are stored shall be secured to protect the recording from tampering or theft.
  • Surveillance recordings are subject to inspection by the Bureau. They should be kept in a manner that allows the Bureau to view and obtain copies of the recordings at the licensed premises immediately upon request.

Failure to comply with security requirements can result in the surrender of licenses, prison time, and expulsion from the industry altogether.

In California, each compliance discrepancy can cost as much as $5,000 in fines – amounting to four times as much as the license itself! 

How Does Cloud Protect the Cannabis Industry Against Compliance Violations?

Although some state laws may differ, all states require cannabis owners to provide an off-premise solution to adequately retain video evidence.

While most states require a security plan to include a minimum of 40 days of retention, other states like California require video footage to be kept for a minimum of 90 days.

Some insurance companies mandate footage up to a year!

Whether you choose a traditional system or cloud-based surveillance, it must be ideally suited to meet the unique challenges and compliance guidelines of the cannabis industry.

Additionally, your security system must offer:

  • Camera coverage for all key areas – including each point-of-sale, entrance, exit and inventory and rooms any area where cash and cannabis is handled
  • Sophisticated AI technology – for object and facial recognition that instantly notifies users by email and or mobile devices
  • Multi-site management – including the ability to add cameras and users from multiple locations.

Cloud Surveillance Benefit #1: Off-Premise Storage

Cloud Video Security is ideally suited to meet the compliance demands of the ever-changing cannabis industry.

With Cloud Video Security, video evidence is stored in a secure data center, automatically allowing cannabis owners to meet the requirement for off-premise storage and eliminate any hardware or on-premise equipment to manage.

Cloud can be an alternative option for business owners who need a security system added to multiple locations but want it accessible and controllable through one login and account.

Cloud Surveillance Benefit #2: Scalability

Cloud as a service is fully automated and easily scalable. Whether you need to add additional cameras or scale up your storage to meet compliance laws, a cloud-based solution offers owners easy multi-site, multi-user scalability.

When you consider the long-term repairs and resources required of a traditional system (such as hardware, network failures, and a dedicated IT team to monitor and manage security), cloud surveillance can lead to a more cost-effective solution.

Cloud Surveillance Benefit #3: The Perfect Hybrid Solution

The need to adapt and change direction quickly is a core principle of business – and it’s particularly important to business owners in the cannabis space, where compliance laws are continually evolving.

With Cloud, there’s no reason to do a complete surveillance system overhaul. If you have an on-premise system in place, Cloud Video Security makes it easy and affordable to deploy cloud cameras where you need them most.

Add as many or as few as you want – only paying for what you need.

It’s the ideal solution for those critical, key areas where state law requires an off-premise solution, like entrances, point-of-sale, packaging, and inventory rooms.

As your business grows, so can your cloud camera count – making the hybrid cloud model an affordable and simple strategy for securing your business. 

To learn more about our cloud video solutions, contact one of our cloud experts by calling 877-995-2288 Mon-Fri 8 am-6 pm CST