The medicinal and entertainment properties of Marijuana have been known for years. Majority of our ancestors didn’t grow the plant to get high, but as herbal medicine. Historians believe that the first cultivation of the plant likely started in Asia around 500 BC. The history of cannabis cultivation in America dates back to the early colonists, who grew hemp for textiles and rope. The beginning of the 20th century saw a push to the criminalization of marijuana in the United States, though its legal status is changing at a rapid pace. Back in the late 1970s some states began to decriminalize marijuana possession, but it wasn't until 2012 when Colorado and Washington become the first two states to allow for the recreational use of the plant that the tide really began to turn.

As of today 11 states allow for the sale of medical and recreational cannabis while 22 other states only allow the sale of medical marijuana. Not surprisingly the federal government is still lagging behind and still considers marijuana illegal with no distinction of recreational or medical use.

And here is where problems begin. Whoever finds themselves involved in the cannabis industry has to navigate this conflicting views of state versus federal laws.

This is important to know for professionals working in the security field for a couple of reasons. Primarily this means that the cannabis industry is a cash business. Banks are regulated by the federal government therefore they cannot do business with companies who are in the cannabis industry, even though it maybe perfectly legal by state laws.

This means there is an additional layer of risk associated with protecting a dispensary, for example.

A cash only business is more susceptible to crime, requires additional safety measures and the security guards tasked with the protection of the business and its employees must be mentally and physically prepared for a possible armed robbery, more so than at another business.

The security company hired by the dispensary must have additional insurance to operate in the marijuana industry and not only it has to understand all the legal challenges to operate in the industry, but they must offer specific training to their guards in preparation for the job. They should also spend lots of time researching local laws and consult an attorney who is familiar with the cannabis industry before signing any agreements.

Dispensaries usually limit the number of customers inside their premises and keep one guard on the outside. How can a guard quickly size up a potential threat in the very brief interaction on the outside of the store? How can a guard properly protect the business inside while stationed outside?

Body language skills are extremely valuable and we suggest every employee should go through some kind of training to learn how to read body language. A quick chat on the outside of the store can also help the guard determine the state of mind of the customer and sense anything that may be off. Store employees and security guards should also agree on non verbal signals to alert each other of potential threats and issues without raising suspicion.

These are just some examples of the additional skills required to effectively and safely work in the cannabis industry as a security professional.

It's also important that the security firm keeps up to date with the legislation and continuously offers training to its employees who are tasked with working for a business in the cannabis industry.