In November of 2016, citizens of Maine voted to approve legislation to legalize the adult use of marijuana. It’s been three years, and constituents still do not have a way to purchase the drug legally.
It would appear that lawmakers have had some difficulty agreeing on the rules and regulations to be established. This is understandable; marijuana regulation and taxation is brand new territory. With that being said, politicians and policy makers should tap into available resources. Experts should be consulted to help mold these laws and establish safe reasonable guidelines.
The latest hiccup is the lack of testing facilities in the pipeline. All marijuana must be tested after cultivation and before sale to the consumer; this ensures consistency and public safety. So far, only one marijuana testing facility has been approved within the entire state. This presents a huge problem economically. There are substantial and realistic concerns that the singular facility will be unable to handle the volume. If the product were a different substance, cultivation facilities could ship their goods over state lines for testing. Unfortunately, this is not a possibility since marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. The product must remain within state lines at all times.
There are exponential parts to any economic chain, and the more regulation on an industry, the more possibilities for problems arise. In this instance, the product supply chain was not considered within the timeline of licensing. This will undoubtedly affect the product quantities available for sale, and cause marijuana prices to be very high until they establish additional testing facilities.
As a Cannabis entrepreneur, it is of the utmost importance to seek out the most qualified professionals to navigate the rules and regulations of this burgeoning industry. If you’re considering opening a marijuana facility (testing facility or otherwise) don’t make a similar mistake. Consult an expert.
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.
“The Department and law enforcement agencies shall have the ability to access a cultivation center’s security alarm system in real-time”
Security Plan and Record keeping (145 points):
A) Measure 1 (40 points): The applicant’s security plan demonstrates
its ability to prevent the theft or diversion of cannabis and how the
plan will assist ISP, the Department, and local law enforcement.
Specifically, it shall evidence compliance with all items in Sections
1300.180 and 1300.185 of this Part.
B) Measure 2 (40 points): The applicant demonstrates that its plan for
record keeping, tracking and monitoring inventory, quality control
and security, and other policies and procedures will discourage
unlawful activity. It also describes the applicant’s plan to
coordinate with, and dispose of unused or surplus cannabis through
ISP, and the Department.
C) Measure 3 (40 points): The applicant’s security plan shall describe
the enclosed, locked facility that will be used to secure or store
cannabis, its security measures, including when the location is
closed for business, and the steps taken to ensure that cannabis is
not visible to the public.
D) Measure 4 (25 points): The applicant’s plan to apply for a
transporter license or plan to work with a licensed transporter and
the applicant’s procedures for safely and securely delivering
cannabis and cannabis-infused products to cannabis business
establishments
“Enclosed, Locked Facility” means a room, greenhouse, building, or other
enclosed area equipped with locks or other security devices that permit access only by cannabis business establishment agents working for the licensed cannabis business establishment or acting pursuant to the Act to cultivate, process, store, or distribute cannabis. [410 ILCS 705/1-10]”
Per Section 1300.30
Authorized On-Premises Storage. A cultivation center is authorized to store
cannabis and cannabis-infused products inventory on the licensed premises. All inventory stored on the licensed premises must be secured in a limited access area and tracked using the inventory and security requirements of this Part.
The legal Cannabis market is still in its infancy, and experiencing some major growing pains. One such growing pain is that of transparency. Customers and regulators want to be able to access information in regards to licensees, be they retail dispensaries, growers or cultivation facilities. With the internet, this has made this wish much easier to accomplish.
Up until last week, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) provided a map detailing locations of marijuana producers and processors. A recent string of burglaries has compelled the LCB to remove this map. There’s no confirmed correlation between the burglaries and the LCB’s disclosure of locations, but the state government has chosen to err on the side of caution. This information is still accessible by the public via a public records requests (as mandated by Washington law).
Interactive map on the LCB website displaying retail locations: http://wslcb.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=a84ba123b8d94a65aa03ae573a65c1aa
Regulating a previously illegal substance with a high black-market value is no easy feat.
Stringent security regulations are often stressed at the retail level, and less so for other licensees. It is pertinent to remember that security is a critical facet at any level of the cannabis economic chain.
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.
Today is New Year’s Eve, and many Illinois residents have a big reason to celebrate in 2020.
In less than 24 hours, marijuana will be legal to purchase for recreational use. Residents and businesses are gearing up for the historic occasion.
Some Illinois dispensaries are planning to open as early as 6am; others have rented out coffee shops to keep customers warm and happy, and one store will be using a paging system to notify customers when to return to make purchases.
Chicago Sun Times Interactive Map on where to buy weed in Illinois:
There is, however, one lingering concern in the back of everyone’s mind: will the supply be able to satiate demand? Politicians and experts actually agree that the answer is a resounding, “NO”. Medical marijuana patients have inventory concerns, but priority has been given to patients over recreational customers. Stores must maintain a certain amount of product exclusively for medical patients.
The efficiency (or lack thereof) of this roll out could affect how and when marijuana is legalized in the surrounding areas. Kentucky is discussing medical marijuana next year, and Indiana has already begun decriminalization efforts to combat the flow of product in from Illinois & Michigan. Tomorrow is a historic day for the Midwest, and neighbors to Illinois will be watching carefully.
Leaders in the Illinois cannabis market depend on a holistic security plan that is designed to maintain compliance, meet regulatory standards, and optimize business operations. How are you handling Exhibit H & Exhibit J of your license application?
Information has been gathered from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.
This is the first of two petitions submitted to the office of the secretary of state.
Per the initiated measure, this petition would legalize marijuana testing, manufacturing, and cultivation facilities, as well as marijuana dispensaries. These establishments would be required to submit applications and register with the Department.
If passed and made a new medical marijuana law in South Dakota, qualified medical patients would be allowed delivery, manufacture-and for State residents, cultivation-of marijuana and marijuana-based products to treat or alleviate debilitating medical conditions certified by the patients’ practitioners.
Marijuana Possession Decimalization?
Qualified medical patients (cardholders) would be allowed to have up to three (3) ounces of of marijuana and additional amounts of marijuana products.
These new laws, requirements and plans for the safe manufacture, and security of patients, caregivers and facilities may come to fruition in the near future.
According to a new story from High Times, Indiana is once again putting cannabis decriminalization on the floor for debate.
In years past, Karen Tallian, a state senator in Indiana, has filed legislation in favor of making cannabis plans that would bring Indiana to the forefront of decriminalization, and again on Monday, has done it once again.
If laws in Indiana for marijuana were to change, this would bring the total to over 20 states with some form of decriminalization for marijuana possession.
For those that are anticipating changes to Indiana cannabis laws and plans for security requirements to apply for any potential license application, the best advice is to be patient.
This holiday season, New Jersey lawmakers are discussing a different kind of ‘trees’. A measure to place marijuana on the 2020 ballot was passed yesterday (Monday, December 16, 2019). This ballot will give New Jersey constituents the choice in whether they want to allow marijuana available for adult legal purchase without a prescription.
New Jersey Cannabis Facilities and Dispensaries poised for potential growth.
New Jersey currently allows marijuana use for medicinal purposes. This past summer, the Governor signed an act into law expanding their current medical marijuana program. It would appear that New Jersey is paying attention, and making alterations where needed. Let’s hope when it comes time to draft regulations for the adult use market, they are still paying attention. Many states have been purposefully vague within their crafting of regulations. Future licensees can only hope that New Jersey will be more concise and direct within their instructions for operation of the adult-use market.
If an individual is contemplating entering the legal cannabis market in New Jersey, now would be a great time to start doing research on security plans, facility design and more.
At KL Security, we’ve completed medical marijuana security projects in New Jersey, and 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.
The amount of marijuana researchers has increased by 40% in two years. With the dramatic increase in the number of approved researchers, comes a colossal increase in demand for researchable product. Until this past fall, the University of Mississippi was the only approved producer for medical marijuana for research purposes.
As the country moves toward legalization, the Drug Enforcement Administration recognizes the need for better quantity and quality of THC products for researchers. Americans want legal weed, but they want to know the scientific pros and cons as well. This also allows cannabis companies to fund research to better their products, just like pharmaceutical companies.
Meet all of the security requirements for Controlled Substance Storage for Schedule I – V with a variety of UL Listed TL-15, TL-30 and TL-60 safes and ArmorStor Vaults
Marijuana is currently classified as a schedule I drug (at the federal level). These production facilities will be held to the same standards as other manufacturers of similarly scheduled products.
While individual states have created security requirements for compliance, cannabis is still subject to DEA rules and restrictions. Per the Code of Federal Regulations 21CFR 1301.72 As such, our vault rooms are rated per UL 608 Standards as follows:
UL Class 1 Vault(30 minutes torch and tool resistance)
UL Class 2 Vault(60 minutes torch and tool resistance)
UL Class 3 Vault(120 minutes torch and tool resistance)
When you’re ready to begin the process of security planning for your cannabis business operation, the consultants at KL Security are available to assist with facility security plans, security equipment, ArmorStor Compliant vaults and more. Well versed in government regulations and recent legal mandates, we are prepared to help your business plan and pass requirements for Cannabis facility design and security programming.
On Monday, December 16, 2019, Senator Karen Tallian filed a marijuana reform package for the upcoming 2020 legislative session. This package addresses state wide decriminalization, hemp regulation reform, and calls for the establishment of a Cannabis regulatory department. Senator Tallian calls Indiana’s hemp laws ‘outdated and confusing’ as well as ‘a mess’. There will be opposition; Indiana is a conservative state. Governor Eric Holcomb, Republican, has said he will not support legalization while marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. (5)
Will there be more than corn in Indiana? The majority of residents hope so.
Roughly 80% of Hoosiers favor legalizing marijuana at some capacity (medicinal or recreation cannabis). (1)
The legalization of marijuana in neighboring states may have had an influence in this matter. Indiana borders Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky. Three out of four of these states (Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio) currently have legislature on the books allowing constituents to use Cannabis in one form or another without fear of criminal consequences. Kentucky is slated to vote on the issue of medical marijuana legalization in early 2020, so this may soon change. (2)
If Kentucky legalizes marijuana for medicinal use, Indiana will be completely surrounded by weed. It would be incredibly naïve to believe that visitors from neighboring states will not be bringing it with them when they cross state lines.
Would that be legal? No.
If these visitors were intercepted by law enforcement and prosecuted, would that add to Indiana’s overburdened criminal justice system? Yes.
Two (2) Indiana Counties have released statements on decriminalization of cannabis. In a state that is bordered by Four (4) others with legalized cannabis or hemp, these changes are welcomed by 80% of residents (1)
Some communities and officials are choosing to adapt with the times, and reallocate their resources. It is being recognized that pursuing these low level/nonviolent charges, may not be the wisest choice on how to spend taxpayer’s dollars. Perhaps police officers and court officials could be more influential to the overall safety of a community if they were able to spend more time catching violent offenders.
The Marion County prosecutor thinks so. Marion County is located in the center of the state, contains the state capital: Indianapolis, and is home to just shy of a million people. (US Census Bureau https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/marioncountyindiana)
“Mears announced Monday that his office will no longer prosecute certain marijuana possession offenses in Marion County. If a person possesses less than one ounce of marijuana, that person will not face formal charges from the prosecutor’s office, effective immediately. The policy is aimed at diverting resources to violent crimes, such as murder and sexual assault.” (3)
It now appears that Lake County officials may follow Marion County’s lead. This week, County officials discussed the option to modify marijuana possession from a criminal to a civil infraction. Under the new ordinance, individuals caught with small amounts of marijuana would be issued a ticket and ordered to pay a fine instead of going to jail.
“The Lake County Council has preliminarily endorsed an ordinance establishing a civil fine for marijuana possession, instead of requiring people caught with pot to go to jail. The change is being spurred by the forthcoming legalization of recreational marijuana in Illinois and Michigan.” (4)
These baby steps are a big deal to Hoosiers. This shows constituents that politicians are listening, and making the first moves toward legalization. Given these recent developments, how long will it be until Indiana changes laws and plans for legalization of marijuana? Time will tell.
Information has been gathered from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed, and is subject to change without notice.
Information has been gathered from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed, and is subject to change without notice.
In big new for the state of Indiana, Lake County, whose borders are near Michigan and Illinois, where cannabis is legal for medical and recreational use, has proposed to relax penalties for marijuana possession.
In what appears to be an effort to reduce the costs associated with marijuana infractions on the judicial system in Lake County, Indiana has taken progressive steps toward decriminalization.
