In 1972, the US Congress placed marijuana in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act because they considered it to have “no accepted medical use.” Since then, 23 of 50 US states and DC have legalized the medical use of marijuana.
The Pros of Medical Marijuana
Proponents of medical marijuana argue that it can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and other conditions. They cite dozens of peer-reviewed studies, prominent medical organizations, major government reports and the use of marijuana as medicine throughout world history.
The Cons of Medical Marijuana
Opponents of medical marijuana argue that it is too dangerous to use, lacks FDA-approval, and that various legal drugs make marijuana use unnecessary. They say marijuana is addictive, leads to harder drug use, interferes with fertility, impairs driving ability, and injures the lungs, immune system, and brain. They say that medical marijuana is a front for drug legalization and recreational use.
According to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder –
“It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana, but we will not tolerate drug traffickers who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask activities that are clearly illegal.”
What is a Medical Marijuana Dispensary?
In areas which have approved the use of marijuana for medical purposes, there are Marijuana Medical Dispensaries. These are the only legal outlets for people who have a prescription from a physician to gain access to marijuana.
Many of these new marijuana dispensaries are so new that they are busy organizing their operations and identifying their security needs. Marijuana security is very complex and because of the nature of the item, it is on a par with the security needs of banks, laboratories, and other facilities which hold high volumes of cash or sensitive products or information.
State Requirements
It is essential to check the requirements of your state regarding the production and sale of medical marijuana.
Black Market
The initial worry regarding Medical Marijuana Producers and Dispensaries was that marijuana would be stolen and find its’ way onto the black market. It’s interesting to note that this has not happened as of yet. The biggest issue which has been identified is the theft of marijuana by employees at every part of the production and sales chain.
Are You a Producer for the Medical Marijuana Business?
As a marijuana producer, you have a responsibility to safeguard an in-demand product and ensure it reaches the hands of identified legal prescription-holders.
It is entirely likely that at one time or another, you will face security challenges from individuals who do not hold legal marijuana prescriptions but want to have access to your product.
Some areas of your growing and/or production facility will require heightened security measures to protect your high value product and to meet security measures required by regulatory agencies.
As a result of these risks, you need to control access to your facility and have an advanced security system to protect your property, your license, and your personnel.
In addition, you need surveillance cameras, which will monitor all areas of your facility, along with facility access control solutions.
We Can Help
Since medical marijuana security is a brand new field, it has been recommended that dispensaries should seek advice and solutions from proven security experts.
We offer a variety of security solutions including controlled access and surveillance cameras.
Why Security is So Important
Security is one of the most crucial pieces of the marijuana industry puzzle. The legalization of marijuana can only work if the business becomes legitimized and the product is does not enter the black market.
So without top-tier security systems at every stage of the process, the entire legalization process could break down. Patients who are legitimately in need of the drug will suffer and so will people involved in the business.
Don’t leave it to chance. Give us a call today and we’ll be happy to advise you.
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