Author: Security Planning Admin

Oklahoma Medicinal Marijuana Facility Regulations

The Medicinal Marijuana industry is booming in Oklahoma. The state has issued more than 6,500 business licenses1. This is due to the barriers to entry for cannabis entrepreneurs being much lower compared to other states. One common barrier to entry for any entrepreneur is the initial cost of security implementation.

Oklahoman legislators were vague in their description for physical security requirements:

This may seem preferable to a business owner, but the opposite may be true. Without guidance in regards to security implementation, a business may face unexpected costs down the line:

  1. If the regulatory agency (Oklahoma Medicinal Marijuana Authority, in this case) does not approve a proposed security plan within an application, the applicant will need to revise and supplement the plan.  This will affect deadlines and possible construction timelines.
  2. When cannabis is eventually legalized at the federal level, stricter regulations will be established. A business would incur profit losses from closure to modify the building to meet these standards as well as the cost of the security products themselves.
  3. In the worst-case scenario, criminals have assailed your business. They were able to obtain product, cash, and in the process have seriously injured your employees and/or customers. Not only did you accumulate loss immediately due to the stolen product and money, but there are additional costs:
    • Lost income from closing business for repairs/investigation
    • Fines imposed (if state-mandated guidelines were not employed)
    • Implementation of additional safeguards to prevent reoccurrence
    • Civil lawsuits incurred due to the injury of employees & customers

How’s the health & well-being of your operational protocols to deter diversion?

At KL Security, we have a proven track record for compliance with state laws and security requirements. Utilizing the Total Harvest Coverage methodology for security plans as well as cannabis business operation improvements, we have successful projects in facilities in multiple states, helping leaders in the cannabis industry drive revenue and stay compliant with state laws.

Information has been gathered from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.

Legal information obtained from: http://omma.ok.gov/

  1. Dishman, David. (2019, August 11). Oklahoma’s young marijuana industry’s growth exceeds expectations. The Oklahoman. Retrieved from: https://oklahoman.com/article/5638256/oklahomas-young-marijuana-industrys-growth-exceeds-expectations

Marijuana Retail Dispensaries and Security

Marijuana dispensaries (both medicinal and recreational) are targets for criminals. Since cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, the majority of banking institutions refuse association. This requires the industry operates primarily in cash. Not to mention, the product of sale is highly profitable on the black market.  These factors paint dispensaries as the holy grail to larcenists.

“In separate incidents on July 19, 2017, a security guard was killed and three other men were wounded at a South Los Angeles dispensary, where a guard was shot to death last year in a robbery. In a Colorado killing, a $55,000 reward is offered for the killers of a Marine veteran shot in the head twice at a dispensary.” 1

Most states have stringent guidelines regarding the safe storage of data, cannabis products, and cash. These guidelines are not as detailed regarding the protection of human life. In any situation, the loss of life is the costliest. A business would be vulnerable to civil litigation from the injured employee or surviving relatives, should the unthinkable occur. The cost of litigation and settlements would far exceed the initial implementation of security systems.

Hamilton’s Entrance System Vestibule provides a tough first line of defense in preventing firearms from entering your building. The unit incorporates key features such as metal detection, motion sensors, and door locking controls with warning alerts to help prevent takeover robberies.

A key element in the design and construction of a dispensary is the visual aesthetic. Safety shouldn’t have to be compromised to meet design goals.

“Silver-framed bullet-resistant glass partitions—required by local ordinances—separate functional areas but keep the space feeling open and visually accessible.  Flexible merchandising fixtures utilize the vertical space for product displays and provide a more comfortable shopping experience.” – High Road Studio https://highroadstudio.com/portfolio/retail-interior-design/the-healing-center/
Bulletproof technology has evolved to meet the needs of today’s retail world. Now, fiberglass panels may be inserted behind drywall or paneling to protect both people and products in storage rooms. This allows designers more freedom in their concepts and allows for budtenders to complete secure transactions.

Wouldn’t it be wiser to deter criminals from considering your business as a target? By utilizing the consulting of security experts and installing top-rated products, thieves are less likely to consider your business as an easy ‘mark’.

The partnership of KL Security with Total Security Solutions means that cannabis entrepreneurs can meet all municipal guidelines to pass inspection successfully. The cumulative knowledge of both teams is at your disposal to assist in the formulation of a bulletproof (pun intended) security plan.

TOLL FREE 1-866-867-0306

[email protected]

DEA Rules, security requirements and regulations per the Code of Federal Regulations

1. Rahmanni, Neama. (2017). ‘Get real about security at marijuana dispensaries’. Orange County Register. December 28. Retrieved from: https://www.ocregister.com/2017/12/27/get-real-about-security-at-marijuana-dispensaries/ Information has been gathered from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.

Protecting Business Operations & Data During the Coronavirus Outbreak

The Coronavirus is conquering the world, and officials are doing what they can to mitigate the spread. The virus is transmittable before symptoms appear, making it difficult to corral and prevent transmission.

Some states have implemented mandatory quarantine & isolation protocols. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are not in critical condition, you are remanded to your home to recover. A person may not attend work or school. Officials check-in by phone to ensure you do not break quarantine. If your symptoms require 24-hour medical attention, you are admitted to a hospital to be treated in isolation. Violating these orders will incur fees and possible prosecution.

In an effort to combat the spread, many are electing to work from home. Some are doing so voluntarily, others under direct order from management. Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter, and Square are all operating remotely (some voluntarily, others not) until the outbreak is contained.1

With all this discussion of working remotely, how do you ensure that your information stays secure? One easy way to verify the safety of proprietary information is to store it securely. The ioSafe Private Cloud Server is the best private cloud server available.  Accessing your work from anywhere is a requirement for modern enterprises, but public cloud services are often insecure and frequently quite slow (especially when it comes to recovering large-volume data).

We often forget how vulnerable our digital data really is. Proprietary business information is incredibly valuable and often irreplaceable. If you have concerns about the effectiveness of your digital security, reach out to the team at KL Security; seasoned and experienced security integrators are available to discuss your digital security needs.

TOLL FREE 1-866-867-0306

[email protected]

Information has been gathered from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.

  1. Noguchi, Yuki. March 9, 2020. Laundry Between Emails: Working from Home Goes Viral in The Time of Coronavirus. National Public Radio. Retrieved from: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/09/812898220/laundry-between-emails-working-from-home-goes-viral-in-the-time-of-coronavirus