Achieving High Security: How ProdataKey Protects Cannabis Facilities
- ProdataKey
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Cannabis businesses make up a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States today—one that operates on the basis of strict control and regulation. Unlike many other retail sectors, cannabis facilities not only need to protect goods and people, but they also need to comply with specific government-mandated security requirements. In order for cannabis businesses to succeed, effective security is a must. That’s where ProdataKey (PDK) comes in.
The following white paper dives into the security needs of cannabis facilities, and explores the various solutions that ProdataKey provides through its cloud-based access control technologies.
What is the Cannabis Industry?
The cannabis industry encompasses a wide range of operations, from cultivation and processing to testing, distribution, and sale. While marijuana production and distribution has been around for much of human history, the modern, regulated cannabis industry is quite young—but undeniably successful. In 2021, legal sales of cannabis in the United States totaled $25 billion dollars, which was a 40% increase from the previous year (according to a report from the Security Industry Association). Research provided by Headset reveals that the average consumer within the cannabis industry spends an estimated $645 dollars annually, with some individuals spending over $2,500 per year. In a commercially successful industry where demand is high, production must be able to effectively meet these demands.
Cannabis cultivation typically takes place in indoor facilities, with an estimated 88% of cultivators utilizing enclosed facilities with artificial lighting, according to a 2022 report from Cannabis Business Times. This same report sheds some light on the typical makeup of these facilities, with the average canopy size being roughly 34,500 square feet. Nearly a quarter of cultivators grow in facilities spanning over 50,000 square feet—nearly the size of an American football field. And a much smaller amount, only 13%, cultivate their product in facilities of less than 1,000 square feet. As facilities grow in size and consumer demand increases, operators are under growing pressure to streamline their infrastructure and ensure reliable, faster, and more secure operations.
Security Requirements for Cannabis Facilities
Security requirements for cannabis facilities are shaped by a unique combination of high-value goods and strict regulatory oversight. From preventing theft to maintaining detailed access records and surveillance footage, operators must implement security systems that address both real-world threats and evolving compliance standards. The following section outlines the key security risks facing cannabis facilities and the regulatory expectations that define how an access control system must be designed and maintained.
The Threat of Theft
Security is a major concern for the cannabis industry, as the resources being cultivated, distributed, and sold need to be carefully tracked and accounted for at all times. Despite this, security issues like burglary, robbery, and even vandalism take place in cannabis facilities frequently. A report from Pro-Vigil revealed that an estimated 20% of cannabis dispensaries are robbed or burglarized at some point, and Marijuana Venture determined that roughly 12% of cannabis facilities report inventory shrinkage, in both cash and product.
Data from the Portland Police Bureau’s “Cannabis Business Statistics” 2023 report further illustrates the scope of the theft problem. Looking at cannabis facilities in the Portland area alone, police found that 72% of businesses had been impacted by burglary, robbery, or vandalism between 2016 and 2023. Burglary in particular was the largest threat, with the number of incidents reaching a peak of over 150 in 2020.
Of the total burglaries, robberies, and vandalism incidents that occurred in this 2016 to 2022 period, a majority took place between the hours of 8:00pm and 4:00 am. In particular, the midnight to 4:00am period saw the highest concentration of security incidents. This points towards the necessity for reliable around-the-clock security, since many of these issues take place after-hours when locations are unstaffed.
Pro-Vigil also revealed that an estimated 90% of cannabis facility theft was performed by internal actors. This means that facility managers not only need to keep out unauthorized visitors, but they also need to carefully monitor employee activity and access at all times. In addition, facilities need effective product and access tracking in the event that an internal theft does occur. With effective tracking and logs, businesses can be given the tools to figure out exactly how the theft took place and address it properly.
State Regulations for Cannabis Production and Sale
The legality of marijuana in the United States relies greatly on properly regulated production and distribution. Despite this, cannabis regulation and legality differs greatly depending on the state.
As of December 2025 (according to DISA):
25 states have fully legalized cannabis
40 states allow medicinal cannabis
32 states have decriminalized cannabis
While legalization of the substance is gradually expanding, each state enforces a unique regulatory framework outlining security needs for cannabis facilities. This requires operators and security installers alike to be aware of unique regulatory needs as they bring facilities up-to-code.
Most states require continuous video surveillance with varying retention periods, typically between 30 and 90 days. Additionally, many regulators expect facilities to maintain detailed access records, capturing information like the date and time of access, who accessed the area, length of access, and so on. Failure to meet regulatory requirements can be detrimental to cannabis businesses—so installing the proper security system is a necessity.
How PDK Makes Security Compliance Easy
As a leader in access control technology, ProdataKey is equipped with the security solutions needed to keep cannabis facilities secure and running smoothly. The following section explores how PDK enables cannabis businesses to prevent security incidents while relying on a system that is simple to manage and easy to use.
Customizable Access Permissions
One of the most effective ways to reduce internal and external theft is by setting up reliable and precise access permissions. Luckily, ProdataKey makes it easy for cannabis businesses administrators to assign highly specific access permissions, based on factors like role, location, and time.
When using an cloud-based access control system like ProdataKey, individuals need to have the proper credentials and permissions in order to 1) enter the building, and 2) move around within that building. This ensures that outsiders cannot enter the premises, and only specific employees can access certain areas. For example, some staff members may have access to grow rooms during their scheduled shifts—but they won’t have access to processing or storage areas. This reduces the risk of theft by keeping unauthorized individuals out of sensitive areas where products, money, or information need to be monitored and protected at all hours.
Simple Access Reports and Auditing
In addition to limiting access to authorized individuals only, ProdataKey delivers detailed insights into any access events that occur within a given system. This is crucial for the cannabis industry, seeing as many states require comprehensive access logs to be kept for compliance purposes.
In PDK.io, system managers can easily view live events as they unfold, and generate detailed reports showcasing data such as:
Who attempted to access a door
The time and date of access
If access was granted or denied
If the user is a part of an Access Group
Credential information and status
These reports can cover a period of 90 days to 5 years in the past, based on the user’s reporting plan. These reports are invaluable during regulatory inspections or compliance audits. Instead of compiling data from multiple systems or tracking access information manually on paper, operators can easily produce clear, accurate access reports in minutes within PDK.io.
Integrated Video and Alarms
ProdataKey integrates with many of the security industry’s leading technologies, empowering dealers to create integrated, unified security ecosystems that protect facilities from all angles. Integrated security is highly valuable—and in some cases mandatory—for businesses within the cannabis industry.
For example, the official Requirements on Security from the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board specifies a need for:
24/7 video surveillance at a minimum resolution of 1920x1080 pixels covering all entry and exit points
24/7 alarm systems for outdoor cannabis facilities
Devices to detect unauthorized intrusion, covering the cultivation area, perimeter, and exterior area of the facility
Immediate notification to local law enforcement upon security breaches
The requirements listed above are just a handful of the many requirements cannabis businesses need to meet—and those examples alone require four separate systems: video surveillance, alarms, access control, and incident response. For a system to effectively utilize these various tools, integration is key. And with ProdataKey’s intuitive cloud-based system, integration is not only possible—it’s easy. By integrating the various tools used within a facility, security staff no longer have to jump between disparate systems. Instead, they can manage everything from one unified place.
Access Control for the Cannabis Industry
As the cannabis industry continues to grow, security and compliance will remain an integral part of proper business operations. While regulations differ per state, there is a general expectation that any cannabis business facility—dispensaries, cultivation facilities, storage areas, and more—need to be secured and monitored at all times.
ProdataKey empowers cannabis facilities with intelligent access control, seamless integrations, and intuitive reporting tools designed for the strictest operational demands. By prioritizing compliance and strengthening security at every level, PDK helps cannabis businesses protect their products, their people, and their licenses.
ProdataKey (PDK) is a team of security integrators with decades of hands-on, in-the-field experience. PDK believes that the best technology is created by professionals who know what it takes to secure a facility properly and provide the end-user with a solution that instills confidence and safety.
PDK is passionate about creating technology to enhance the security, safety, and overall experience of both the professionals installing electronic access control and those that live with and use the system. PDK continues to create technology every day to enhance its products and the products of its technology partners.