If you’re planning to start a cannabis dispensary, your prime objective must be selling off your product from the ground into the hands of your customers. And why not, everyone manifests success, monetary benefits and growth to encourage themselves to achieve their set goals. However, the major concern is to pay attention to your business security to protect your dispensary from being a victim of cybercrimes and theft.
Most cannabis retailers underestimate how critical a security plan is to ensure your valuable credentials, customer data, employee information, and other vital assets are protected at all times. Moreover, any security breach or theft incident that happens has the potential to affect your business’s survival and growth.
In a nutshell, creating a security plan is a must for cannabis dispensaries and not taking it seriously could bring about a downfall to your business. Here is how to write a cannabis security plan for your business.
What do you mean by Cannabis Security Plan?
Cannabis security plan is nothing but a set of documents that involve business security plans like operation plans, management plans, and tech plans to carry out dispensaries with minimal difficulties. In simple words, it is a blueprint or master plan to run a business according to the regulations of federal and local laws.
A well-written security plan can address several severe security concerns like shoplifting, robbery, burglary, nuisance abatement and cyberattacks. It is a great way to minimize crime and protect your business against other unforeseen threats and disasters.
Why is the Importance of Having a Security Plan?
The marijuana industry is highly regulated on a state-by-state basis and requires functional security plans to run a business legally. Legislators also gave out a long list of regulations and conditions for growing and selling marijuana easily. The crucial part is not only to follow them but also in case you miss out on any of the points, it can come down to your license request or cancellation.
A professionally written security plan helps safeguard your dispensary from potential threats, and risks and develops strategies to prevent them from harming your business. With a good security plan, you take one extra step to protect your business against cybercrimes and data breaches.
How To Write a Cannabis Security Plan?
Know the Rules & Regulations
Every state has its own guidelines when it comes to cannabis, you need to ensure you are thorough with these rules and laws before getting started with your security plan.
The easiest way is to hire a professional who can write these security plans for your business. However, if you want to write it on your own, then check out your state’s licensing requirements and review local permitting standards to avoid any mistakes. Please keep in mind cannabis rules are constantly changing, so you need to regularly update your security plans to avoid penalties.
Prepare an Outline
Security plans can be divided into three different ways; an introduction (targeting basic application requirements), a facility security plan & operations security plan. Each part requires attention and landscape to handle potential risks.
Introduction
Firstly, in the introduction part you need to target application requirements in order to get a license. Prepare an outline and summarize how to deal with the security and operation tasks of your business in the future. The list must include consultants, dealers, and vendors that can help you in running & expanding your business.
Facility Security Plan
A facility plan means the security of your retail store that includes an alarm system, access control system, surveillance system, monitoring doors, and many more. Facility security involves external and internal theft and shoplifting issues. For example, customer or staff shoplifts, robbery, burglary marijuana products, or cash. To prevent such incidents, you need a systematic approach to ensure your store has a 24*7 surveillance system which is also a must-have thing as per government regulations.
Operations Security
The primary concern of retail owners is keeping their marijuana products and cash secure. To prevent such incidents from happening, owners can use safe and secure storage with limited access. Having access to selected people can control theft cases and prevent misplacing or stealing of cannabis.
Physical Security
Ensure your store is secure from intruders who can steal marijuana products or cash in the absence of an employee.
Network Security
Another major concern is to protect your network from cyber criminals, attackers, or intrusion. It is recommended by professionals to take regular backups of your data, especially at the time of the attack.
Data Security
It is a highly wise decision to keep your data in encrypted form and keep it in strict access control to ensure no unauthorized person or access gets your data.
Staff Education & Crisis Management
Conduct regular training to educate your staff about potential cybersecurity threats, attacks and risks. These training and awareness programs will guide the employees on what to do when such situations occur.
A security plan should address the following key points:
- Provide protection against fire
- Capable of detecting robberies and burglaries
- Capable to shield customer data, employee data
- Capable of protecting cannabis products and cash
- Find out about cash and product theft
- Eliminate internal diversion
- Prevent data breaches
Wrap Up:
Cannabis dispensaries have always been at risk of theft and robberies. High payouts, excessive demand, and limited availability make it a tempting target for thieves. Top of that, selling cannabis isn’t a difficult task nowadays.
Having an excellent cannabis security plan is a demand in the licensing process. Getting the right security plans can keep businesses protected against these threats and help you in the licensing process as well.