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Security

Physical security for cannabis businesses: guards, monitoring, secure transport, and the compliance-driven security plans most licenses require.

6 listedProfessional Services

Cannabis security companies provide the guarding, technology, and planning that state regulators require before a facility can operate. Services split into three overlapping areas: physical guarding (armed or unarmed, on-site or roving), cash-in-transit for a business that still operates largely in cash because federal law restricts its banking access, and security system design — cameras, alarms, access control, and vaults built to meet specific state rules on coverage angles, footage retention (commonly 30 to 90 days), and safe or vault construction standards. Many firms also write the security plan that most states require as part of a license application, documenting how these elements work together before a single camera is installed.

Selecting a security provider starts with confirming state licensure: most states require a separate security guard or private security firm license, and cannabis-specific rules on top of that — armed-guard authorization, cannabis-facility endorsements — narrow the field further. Cannabis experience matters more than general guarding background, since dual-custody cash procedures, seed-to-sale-linked inventory security, and diversion-prevention protocols are specific to the industry. Beyond that, decide what you actually need: some firms only provide guards, others only design and install systems, and some offer consulting-only security-plan writing without ongoing operational services. A facility usually needs at least two of these, and matching the provider to the gap is the main decision.

Questions about security

How long must cannabis businesses keep security camera footage?
Retention requirements are set state by state and commonly range from 30 to 90 days, though some states require longer for certain camera angles, such as points of sale or vault entries. Facilities should confirm the exact figure with their state regulator rather than assume a national standard.
Are armed guards required at cannabis dispensaries?
Requirements vary by state and sometimes by local jurisdiction; some regulators mandate armed security for cultivation or high-cash retail sites, others leave the choice to the operator, and a few restrict or prohibit armed guards outright. Insurance requirements and local police relationships often shape the decision as much as the law does.
What is cash-in-transit service and why do cannabis companies use it?
Cash-in-transit firms securely move and often count cash between dispensaries, cultivation sites, and depository or armored-storage facilities. Cannabis businesses rely on them because limited access to federal banking keeps much of the industry cash-based, creating a robbery and internal-theft risk that specialized, bonded transport reduces.
What does a cannabis security plan need to include for licensing?
Most states require documentation of camera coverage and retention, alarm and access-control systems, safe or vault specifications, cash-handling and dual-custody procedures, visitor and delivery protocols, and employee security training. Some states also require a licensed security professional to prepare or sign off on the plan.
Do cannabis security guards need a separate license from the dispensary?
In most states, yes — security guards and the firms that employ them are typically licensed separately from the cannabis business itself, through a state's private security or guard-licensing board, in addition to any cannabis-specific vendor registration the regulator requires.

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