Professional Marijuana Grower November-December 2018 Issue

FEATUREARTICLE by Eric Hopper Cannabis Garden Security I n order to meet the requirements of state and local entities and to protect their investments, commercial cannabis growers must implement a security system. Even hobby growers, although not required, will get added protection by having some sort of security system in place. The fact of the matter is cannabis is a valuable commodity and thieves are always on the lookout for an easy way to get their hands on a valuable commodity. For hobby growers, a security system could be little more than a few cameras and an audible alarm. For commer- cial growers, depending on the state and local require- ments, a security system could mean high tech monitor- ing, storing months of video surveillance footage, armed guards, concrete barriers and installed safes or vaults. It is important to choose a security system that will not only meet state and local requirements, but will also provide the highest value for the grower’s investment. Professional Security Systems To meet the cannabis regulations established by state and local officials, many commercial growers hire profes- THE ULTIMATE ODOR ELIMINATORS The Ultimate In-Duct Ozonator by Corona Discharge The Room Model Ozonator by Ultraviolet www.uvonair.com TOLL FREE: 1.800.765.2098 FAX: 905.264.6508 361 Rowntree Dairy Road, Unit 4, Woodbridge ON L4L 8H1 Distributed by: Hydrofarm.com • SunlightSupply.com • BWGS.com 20 • Professional Marijuana Grower sional security companies to set up and maintain their se- curity systems. Professional security systems may include cameras, alarms, motion sensors, off-site monitoring, armed guards, or any combination of these items. When searching for a security company, growers should look for a company that has experience in the cannabis indus- try and, most importantly, experience with state and local requirements. Security companies with this experience and knowledge will be able to provide a system that meets legal requirements and can be quickly expanded. The security requirements for cannabis gardens change regularly, so having a security company that is aware of and can adapt to these changes in a timely manner is important to keeping a grow operation running without interruption. In fact, it is always a good idea to have a security system that is easy to expand if/when either the state and local regulations change or the facility itself is expanded. In most cases, buying high quality equipment that is compatible with a variety of software and hardware options is the best long-term solution for a grow facility. Otherwise, the equipment might need to be replaced over and over as regulations change or when the facility expands. Cameras and Monitoring The cameras are arguably the most important aspect of cannabis garden security. Depending on the state and local requirements for coverage of the facility, a grow- er may need full monitoring of all areas of the indoor facility and the outdoor perimeter. This is when a security company with experience in the cannabis industry is helpful. They will understand how to place the cameras so they will not become obstructed by the plants as they grow. Smart placement to maximize the viewing area of the camera also reduces the total number of cameras needed. In other words, it’s not always the total number November/December 2018

Professional Marijuana Grower November-December 2018 Issue | Page 20