Maryland’s marijuana regulators have released guidance to help reduce the risk of burglaries, thefts and other crimes in licensed cannabis businesses. They say that there has been an increase in thefts at dispensaries throughout the state.
Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), said that these burglaries targeted ATMs in dispensaries. The Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) issued this warning to reduce the vulnerability of dispensaries to burglaries, and to protect their licensees, employees and patients.
Banks are not allowed to provide services to the cannabis industry due to federal regulations. This can make the facilities more attractive to burglars.
Maryland cannabis regulators stated that to prevent crime ATMs should not be visible from outside the dispensary. ATMs shouldn’t be visible outside of the dispensary.
The tips suggest that if possible, ATMs should be relocated “to an area of the building that is not directly accessible from exterior doors” and secured to the walls or floor to prevent theft or tampering. Regulators recommend that businesses place dye packs inside their cash boxes, or display signage stating the dye packs are available.
The tips for crime prevention also include a variety of deterrent devices. These include security cameras that can work in low-light conditions and be monitored remotely, ATM devices which make it difficult to move the ATM, ATM alarms and sensors, and hidden GPS trackers.
For businesses, the regulators recommend bollards, other parking lot barriers and “blast, shock, and impact resistant film for windows and doors,” loud alarms with flashing lights, and perimeter lighting.
“As an additional resource, most Maryland law enforcement agencies have designated specially trained Crime Prevention Units or officers that provide no-cost Commercial/Industrial security surveys for your business,” MCA’s security recommendations said. These surveys can reduce the vulnerability of your business to crime.
Cannabis businesses are particularly attractive to criminals because they have large amounts of cash. This is one of the main reasons why Congress has called for banking reform that would allow banks work with state-legal cannabis businesses.
The Secure and fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER), Banking Act which would allow federally-regulated banks to serve the cannabis industry was approved by the Senate Banking Committee last month . Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), has stated that he will bring this legislation to the Senate floor for a “soonest possible” vote.
But last week, the lead GOP sponsor of the SAFER Act in the Senate said that a planned floor vote is on pause until he can ensure the legislation will pass the Republican-controlled House. The delay by House Republicans in selecting a speaker means that little is accomplished in the chamber.
a majority, 55 percent of Americans, say they want Congress to pass a law allowing cannabis companies to access banking services in states that have legalized marijuana. This is according to a recent survey commissioned by American Bankers Association. Results show a slight drop in support compared to ABA’s poll from last year.
In a separate poll conducted by Independent Community Bankers of America in the United States last year, 65 per cent of respondents supported cannabis banking reform.
Only 13% of congressional staffers think federal lawmakers will pass legislation to legalize marijuana banking this session . Staffers were asked to rate the likelihood that 11 issues would be resolved. “Banking for the marijuana sector” was ranked third.
The chances of this bill advancing in the House were questioned after Republicans gained control. The fact that Kevin McCarthy, R-CA, was removed from his position as speaker of the House in a historic vote earlier this month is a major factor contributing to current complications.
McCarthy was seen as a possible ally in the incremental marijuana reform because he voted for the legislation, even though he did not advocate for broader cannabis concerns. Advocates and stakeholders are now watching to see who will replace him when the GOP conference comes to an agreement following weeks of internal division.
Senate committee’s consideration of the bill was already delayed during the summer due to partisan disagreements over a section that Republicans favored, which they claimed would prevent federal financial regulators from discriminating against industries such as firearms.
Schumer has already discussed plans to amend the bill so that it includes measures for expunging previous cannabis records and protecting firearm rights for marijuana users. Other senators like Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-GA, have proposed additional equity-centered changes. The Banking Committee’s refusal of certain of his amendments led him to become the only Democratic member who voted against the Cannabis Bill last Month.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, (R-IA) sent Schumer a letter last month to express his concern over the Senate’s “ongoing priority of legislation relaxing marijuana laws compared to a separate measure that the GOP senator prefers to permanently ban fentanyl analogs.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-AR, is also stirring up the pot about the cannabis banking legislation. He has a distorted interpretation of Schumer’s remarks on the floor last month regarding the plans he had to amend the bill with “criminal Justice provisions.”
Cotton said that while Schumer only mentioned amending the bill in order to include gun rights and expungements, the majority leader is looking to add provisions allowing drug traffickers to be released from prison.
Additionally, Sens. Pete Ricketts, John Cornyn, Ted Budd and James Lankford sent a letter recently to the Senate leadership arguing that the SAFER Banking Act will result in cannabis products with higher potency that are harmful to children and would compromise the integrity of “the United States banking system.”
Maryland also sold a record-breaking amount of cannabis for adult use in September. However, sales of medical marijuana fell slightly. Overall, licensed shops sold cannabis products worth more than $90,000,000.
Recently, state officials released resources to assist social equity licensees prepare for the exclusive licensing round which began this month.
Click here to read the entire bulletin from Maryland regulators:
NOTICE – Tips to reduce the vulnerability of dispensaries to burglaries
Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), as part of its ongoing effort to support and collaborate with Maryland’s licensed cannabis producers, has been monitoring the reports of crimes at licensed facilities. MCA has recently seen an increase of reports of burglaries in dispensaries throughout the State. The ATMs in the dispensaries were targeted by these burglars. MCA has issued this warning to protect consumers and licensees, and to reduce the vulnerability of dispensaries to burglaries. Here are some tips on how to make your dispensary less vulnerable.
Crime Prevention Tips:
– Move ATMs from doors, windows, and exterior doors. ATMs shouldn’t be visible outside of the dispensary
– If at all possible, move ATMs away from areas that are directly accessible through exterior doors.
– Improve staff’s remote monitoring capability
Consider putting dye packs inside the cashbox and/or displaying signage that says the cashbox is equipped with the dye packs.
Close the dispensary by having two staff members independently verify that all doors, both interior and exterior, are locked.
– Install secure ATMs on walls or floors.
– Be aware (situational awareness), and be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles, people who spend an unusually long time watching the building (casing), or customers who ask questions that seem unusual, suspicious or out of place.
Install these devices to deter crime:
- ATM anchor, gate or bar – Devices designed to prevent the machine from moving
- Low-light or infrared cameras that use standard technology
- All ATMs in the dispensary are monitored by cameras
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Sensors and systems designed to detect intrusions or access violations
- Sensors like door/window switches and motion sensors as well as acoustic, seismic, thermal, and acoustic sensor can alert you to unauthorised facility access.
- A sensor and alarm for ATMs
- Alarms with a loud sound and flashing light
- ATMs with hidden GPS trackers
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Parking lot barriers, bollards or other obstacles
- They are designed to prevent vehicle attacks on the facility.
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Blast, shock, and impact resistant film for glass and windows
- They prevent attempts to break glass and enter dispensaries.
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Perimeter lighting
- Fixing high-intensity lights can increase visibility and deter thieves in parking lots, perimeters, and other areas.
As an additional resource, most Maryland law enforcement agencies have designated specially trained Crime Prevention Units or officers that provide no-cost Commercial/Industrial security surveys for your business. These surveys can be very effective at reducing the vulnerability of your business to crime. For more information, please contact the local law enforcement agency.
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Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
The article As Marijuana banking bill stagnates in Congress, Maryland Regulators share tips to reduce burglaries targeting ATMs first appeared on Marijuana moment.
