Note: The SecuraCann Virtual Cannabis Security event that had been scheduled for October 14-15 has been postponed. Plans are in the works to reschedule this as a live event in 2021. We invite all interested speakers, sponsors and attendees to watch this space and monitor our website SecuraCann.com for the latest updates. Anyone wishing to speak our sponsor should contact Steve Lasky at [email protected].
When your company has been in the security business for over 120 years, you are bound to come across an emerging industry or two. That is what happened in 2018 when Missouri residents voted to legalize medical cannabis. As what happened in other states with a similar law, entrepreneurs eagerly geared up to develop their supply chains to meet their future patients’ needs. Missouri lawmakers quickly formed this industry’s governing body under the Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) and began reviewing peer models from around the country.
This willingness to use other state’s models already in place rather than recreate the wheel was not only sound judgment from state leaders, but it put our security experts at ease, as well. Having watched other states implement their programs from afar, our team was already familiar with some of the security and safety demands Missouri licensees would have to meet. That familiarity combined with decades of serving as General Services Administration (GSA) contractors made us eager to move into this new market. After all, we’ve seen every regulatory and compliance issue in the book and are ready to help streamline the most complex security scenarios.
Getting Ready to Go to Bat for Prospective Customers
Though our dugout was stacked with experience, we didn’t presume we could step up to the plate and hit a grand slam. We knew that competition would be steep. We also knew our cannabis industry customers would be navigating the unknown – more so than any other customer we had worked with before. To stick with the baseball analogy: DHSS hadn’t yet marked out where first base was. To serve this market, we knew we had to immerse ourselves in our prospective customers’ mindset of solving challenges. We joined the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association (MoCANN) and set out to solidify our ability to provide reliable, thoughtful expertise.
We also continued to study other states’ policies. It was important to research fully the challenges faced not only by the business owners but also by policymakers. This way we could anticipate the likelihood of DHSS adopting certain practices and project some of the bumps in the road for the licensing process.
In addition to gaining a nationwide perspective, we kept our ear to the ground for the DHSS’s every movement. In May of 2019, Missouri lawmakers released their final rules. We immediately set in motion a series of blogs that captured regulatory compliance overviews, as well as recommendations for implementing security in any medical marijuana facility. We created a library of information for cultivation facilities, seed-to-sale tracking, testing and manufacturing facilities and dispensaries. These blogs became instrumental as a reference for hopeful licensees searching online for reliable information. The security component equated to more than 20% of the application process. Our blog that boiled down those regulations positioned Kenton Brothers as experts and instilled trust among future license holders.
By August 2019, the application process for licensure was in full swing. It should be noted that the risk for these businesses is steep. Understanding this risk as monumental has been key to understanding the landscape for the entire market. By the time licenses were awarded in December, the state of conditions for each prospect was wildly different. Some businesses were still in the process of raising funds. Others were purchasing facilities, while others were relocating, which resulted in additional processing time and steep fees imposed by the DHSS. Some customers were sticking with original specs mapped out for the application process, while others needed adjustments. Again, these kinds of adjustments resulted in additional document submissions to the DHSS and additional fees. Once again, we knew it was key to keep in the mindset of our prospects. In addition to typical business startup challenges, they were likely to be bombarded by every type of vendor eager to get their business.
What Works Across Industries Works Here Too
The security solutions put in front of these entrepreneurs were no different from what other industries use. What was different, was the broad array of security business models from which a medical marijuana provider could choose.
If you’re a baseball fan, think of the various models as a Yankees line up vs. the Oakland A’s in the movie “Moneyball.” If you’re not a baseball fan, just think of it as the difference between a Cardinal vs. an Oriole. Yeah, they’re both the same species, but they look and act differently.
As security integrators, our model has been developed and evolved over the years to meet growing demands across industry sectors. While this makes us incredibly adaptable, it doesn’t mean we want to rearrange our business entirely for this industry. Other medical marijuana security solutions may have a model in which they provide equipment, security staff and transportation, not just security for transportation mind you, but actually transporting marijuana. Other competitors might simply act as consultancies with a background in security.
To stand out among such a broad array of competitors, it became evident that we rely on our proven process for success: state-of-the-art, commercial-grade equipment, a passion for creating integrated solutions for our customers, and a willingness to go above and beyond to meet and exceed their needs.
As inquiries came through and the DHSS requirements were released, it became evident that some facilities, such as cultivation sites and manufacturing facilities would require additional security needs. Relying on our long-standing partnerships with suppliers, such as Gallagher, March Networks and others, we began mapping out solutions for this segment of the industry.
We found these systems would not only be integral to helping cultivation and manufacturing sites be compliant, but it would also help streamline their internal processes while keeping their people, property and possessions safe.
An area for cultivation sites worth research is perimeter security. Missouri regulations required very specific heights, gauges, etc. But standard fencing, even with barbed wire, can’t keep out all intruders – human or animal. A networked perimeter, like Gallagher’s, protects a cultivation site’s harvest. It continuously monitors wire tension and can differentiate between human and wildlife disturbances. If a bird or other animal comes in contact, it disperses a non-lethal pulse, helping to avoid harm.
While indoor grow sites were not required by the DHSS to have fencing, we still recommend perimeter solutions, including gates and networked perimeters for a facility’s employee parking, delivery and shipping areas.
We like to think of security as a layered process, meaning solutions build on one another to create a comprehensive approach. Access control is a foundational layer to manage all users of the facility, from visitors to vendors and employees. These systems include anything from card credentials, badges, key fobs, and phone apps to biometric access. They allow a tiered approach to access based on a person’s role or function. Paired with video surveillance, they allow for a comprehensive view of facility activity.
The ability to monitor a cultivation and manufacturing site closely is extremely critical. Regulatory requirements dictate many aspects of video surveillance, from specific angles and resolution to lighting. Video surveillance can also be used to meet the demands of seed-to-sale compliance. We rely on March Network’s platform that combines IP video surveillance with RFID tracking. This helps staff monitor every aspect of their facility while easily monitoring the location and movement of plants in real-time. This detailed tracking system can quickly ID missing inventory and trace its last location.
It’s also important to note that video surveillance goes beyond just real-time monitoring. Compliance standards dictate high-resolution, commercial-grade equipment. High-quality image capturing is absolutely a best practice, but also creates the need for storing large quantities of footage and data. Our solutions enable easy data analysis to submit any forensic evidence needed in case of an event.
Regarding events, regulations dictate the need to alert law enforcement of any security breach. Beyond that, it is critical for staff to feel safe in their own facility. Expert guidance is a must for implementing proper intrusion and duress security systems that trigger alarms to notify law enforcement of a breach.
Expert guidance is perhaps the largest component to design a security system that is effective, compliant and efficient. The future for medical marijuana grower sites and manufacturers is one that works in close collaboration with government regulators. Those regulators rely on industry partners to implement best practices to minimize risk and meet the standards of regular security audits, which include a review of all the above regulations, along with internal security training and vendor screening processes.
Security is not a “set it and forget it” solution. Neither are the standards set forth by regulatory bodies. Curveballs are a natural part of the landscape for any emerging market. Establishing a reliable partnership with an experienced security integrator can establish a playbook to help businesses evolve ahead of or at pace with their industry.
About the author: David Strickland is the COO at Kenton Brothers Systems for Security located in Kansas City, Missouri. Dave combines his passion for technology and people to help drive Kenton Brothers' mission to protect people's property and possessions. In his role as Chief Operating Officer, he leads a team of more than 40 technicians, project managers, sales experts and more as they grow the business and meet customer’s needs. In true integrator fashion, Dave inspires his team to adopt early technologies that can help streamline processes for customers. In 2019, Kenton Brothers launched an exclusive agreement with Silicon Valley’s Cobalt to provide robotic solutions to augment safety and security challenges in corporate offices, entertainment venues, schools and more. When he's not talking tech, he's pursuing his passion for spending time with his family and serving in charitable organizations such as Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer and Father’s Club.
Note: In conjunction with SecurityInfoWatch.com and Security Technology Executive magazine, we invite you to participate in the SecuraCann Conference, the industry’s only security exclusive event. Designed to inform commercial growers, dispensary retailers, investors and integrators of innovative technology and solutions to mitigate risk and secure their cannabis operations. This virtual event will take place on October 14-15 will offer a focused look at security and risk issues and solutions, providing an opportunity for an educated decision-making process related to technology, policy and procedure, operations and more.
