Dear Cannabis Owners:

This week, thieves broke into a marijuana dispensary in Oregon. The burglars were not able to steal any cash or cannabis because they were secured at closing. As we all know, all cash and cannabis need to be secured in a TL rated safe at closing and not a gun safe.

I see a few security issues which may have reduced some of the damage made during this burglary and would like to share them with you:

1. All sheet rock walls to the outside or adjoining building should be reinforced with three-quarter inch plywood to reduce exposure to burglaries. This may have prevented these burglars from entering the dispensary.
2. Any wall that leads into a cannabis storage area should be reinforced with a UL Class 1 or above modular vault. The vault panels should be constructed of a concrete fiber mix with aggregate and rebar to meet the UL specification specified then set into steel trays to achieve the modular panel. A vault door of equal UL Class rating or above should be place as the entrance in order to maintain the UL Class rating for burglar and fire.
3. The cash register drawer should be left OPEN and empty of any cash at night. This procedure would have saved the dispensary from having to repair or replace the register after being attacked.

I hope these few suggestions will help you better protect your cannabis location. Remember, it is better to be proactive then reactive and taking simple security steps like this may help reduce future losses and make you more profitable.

Have a wonderful holiday season and be safe.

Tony