By Stephen Arndt, President, Cannabis Technology Partners

The cannabis industry has never been more dynamic — or more at risk. As legal sales surge toward a projected $42 billion in 2025, dispensaries, growers, and processors face an escalating threat landscape. High-value inventory, cash-heavy operations, and sensitive customer data make this sector a magnet for theft, fraud, and cybercrime.

If you’re serious about protecting your operation — and your license — security can’t be an afterthought. It must be built into every corner of your business, from the front door to the server room to the cloud.

Cannabis Technology Partners, helps operators across the supply chain implement practical, scalable, and cost-effective security strategies. Let’s break down what works in 2025 — and share real-world lessons from clients who are doing it right.

Why Cannabis Businesses Are Prime Targets

Cannabis operators manage unique risks that most traditional retailers never see. Here’s why:

●  High-Value Target Profile: Cannabis inventory is compact and valuable — a small backpack can carry thousands in product. Combine that with large cash reserves (thanks to limited banking options) and you’re a top target for organized crime and opportunistic thieves alike.

●  Regulatory Pressures: State and local laws mandate strict physical security, surveillance retention, and incident reporting. Fail to comply? You risk fines, license suspension, or even permanent shutdown.

●  Cyber Threats: With digital POS systems, customer databases, and connected surveillance, your business faces an expanding digital attack surface — from ransomware to phishing scams.

Physical Security: Smarter Surveillance That Thinks Ahead

Gone are the days when security meant a dusty old DVR and grainy footage. Modern dispensaries, grow operations, and manufacturing facilities need surveillance that does more than record — it predicts, detects, and helps you respond.

At Cannabis Technology Partners, we deploy AI-powered systems that turn passive cameras into active defenders:

●  Behavioral Recognition: Spot suspicious actions before they escalate.

●  Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR): Monitor who’s coming and going, automatically.

●  Night Vision & Low-Light Enhancement: Keep an eye on your assets 24/7, rain or shine.

●  Crowd Analysis: Prevent overcrowding risks and stay compliant with occupancy rules.

Importantly, we design our systems to meet — and exceed — state retention requirements, with secure, tamper-proof storage and remote access for authorized managers.

Case in Point: Off-Grid Grow, On-Point Surveillance

Here’s what smart looks like in action:

Case Study: A cannabis cultivator operating in a remote area with no grid power needed real-time video surveillance to meet state compliance. The national vendors pitched them solar-powered rentals at $3,000 per month — over $100K in three years.

Instead, our team engineered a custom solution: solar-charged, weatherproof camera pods with ruggedized cellular backhaul — for a one-time cost of $20,000. The client saved $88,000 and got coverage in every grow zone, with zero blind spots.

Access Control: Control Who’s In — and Who Isn’t

Even the best cameras can’t stop someone from tailgating through a door. That’s where intelligent access control comes in.

Modern systems should be adaptive and layered:

●  Multi-Factor Authentication: Use biometric scans, PINs, or behavioral biometrics for added layers.

●  Dynamic Permissions: Limit access to sensitive areas based on roles, shifts, or emergencies.

●  Emergency Lockdowns: Automate lockdowns if a threat is detected.

●  Contactless Entry: Enhance hygiene and reduce risk of stolen keycards.

Cybersecurity: Defending Your Digital Assets

Physical security is only half the battle. Your cannabis business is a digital fortress — or it should be. POS systems, customer records, and IoT devices are all entry points for cybercriminals.

Your plan should cover:

●  Encrypted Customer Data: Protect personal info collected for compliance and age verification.

●  Segmented Networks: Keep your surveillance, POS, and guest Wi-Fi separate.

●  Endpoint Protection: Deploy antivirus, device management, and regular vulnerability scans.

●  Employee Training: Human error is your biggest risk — teach your team how to spot phishing attempts.

Case in Point: Flexible Security for a Growing Retailer

Case Study: A new cannabis retailer came to us stuck between pricey “one-size-fits-all” vendors. They were quoted $40,000 upfront for inflexible, channel-based DVR systems that couldn’t scale.

We designed a networked, IP-based solution that cost them just $8,000–$10,000 — saving over $30K. Now they can add cameras and access points as they grow, with no vendor lock-in. Our proactive monitoring means issues get fixed before they become security headaches.

Inventory Protection & Loss Prevention

Every lost gram or missing dollar adds up. Smart operators pair robust surveillance with:

●  RFID & Weight-Based Tracking: Real-time product tracking and alerts for discrepancies.

●  Secure Cash Handling: Time-delay safes to deter grab-and-go thefts.

●   AI-Powered Behavior Monitoring: Spot unusual purchase patterns or suspicious refunds.

Why an Integrated Approach Matters

I tell every cannabis operator the same thing: security is not a static expense — it’s a living, evolving investment in your license, your people, and your reputation. And it pays for itself: fewer losses, lower insurance premiums, stronger compliance, and peace of mind.

Next Steps: How to Protect Your Business

Here’s what I recommend:

1. Get a Security Risk Assessment: Don’t guess where your gaps are. We’ll pinpoint them for you.
   
   
2. Prioritize Smart Upgrades: Focus on the biggest risks first — you don’t need a six-figure system overnight.
   
   
3.  Leverage Real ROI: Our real-world cases show you can save tens of thousands — and own your hardware outright.
   
   
4. Stay Proactive: Security isn’t set-and-forget. Keep training staff, updating systems, and reviewing compliance.

Your Partner in Cannabis Security

At Cannabis Technology Partners, we believe in practical, flexible solutions tailored to your operation — whether that’s an off-grid grow, a flagship dispensary, or a multi-state manufacturing facility.

Many Thanks to Stephan Arndt for his article on cannabis security.

Stephen Arndt, CEO and CIO of Cannabis Technology  is not just an IT consultant; he’s an industry leader, innovator, and a driving force in cannabis technology solutions. With over 25 years of experience in IT, Stephen has dedicated the last 15 years to the healthcare and cannabis industries, believing in the potential of technology to revolutionize these sectors.

Click here to learn more about IT Security Services for the Cannabis Industry.

Cannabis Technology Partners Website

Nature’s Perfect Organic Seed Starter

Whether for a professional nursery or your back yard garden, you should not have to risk that your seeds won’t germinate successfully. Different seeds have varying germination rates, and most seed starters cannot perform on all types of seeds.

Most of the commercial seed starters available today are peat-based. In fact, many of them are upwards of 90 percent peat moss with some other non-organic soil loosening ingredients, such as perlite. Not all peat mosses are alike. Peat is merely decomposed plant matter, but it does matter what plant are used to form the peat. Sphagnum peat is the decomposed sphagnum plant, a high-water retentive plant free from bacteria. Sphagnum peat moss can provide a good base for germinating plants, but like all peats it generally lacks the correct water retentive properties that all seeds require.

Seed starters should be organic and renewable.

Peat mosses is generally organic, if they meet the government standards for organic, but none of them are renewable. Once dug from the earth, they are gone forever. Why not start with the sphagnum plant? It is organic, holds lots of water and is free of bacteria, all good attributes of a quality seed starter. What’s more it is renewable! Every year the Mosser Lee Company harvests this unique plant in its Wisconsin marshes, leaving enough to regenerate another crop in subsequent years. In fact, their long fibered sphagnum moss Wisconsin marshes have been harvested for over 150 years. That’s renewable!

The long fiber sphagnum moss is milled to a course grind to make it easier to start seeds. It has been recommended by professionals as the only completely renewable seed starter.  Mosser Lee calls it organic seed starter, NoDampOff™ The Ultimate in Seed Starting™ It gives seeds the best chance of achieving the highest seed germination rate available. 

Author: David L Epstein, CEO, The Mosser Lee Company | www.mosserlee.com

The Heavy Duty Yard Sign Stake for Wind & Reuse

A big problem with yards signs is trying to reuse them, not because the sign breaks but more likely the wire frame “called a stake” breaks or get deformed. It seems like a headache to get a new stake and transfer the sign to the new stake every time you want to use it.

The good news is there are wire stakes that designed handle the stress of being reused repeatedly, It’s the H Stake.

Sometimes known as a goal post stake, the heavy-duty H stake has a thick bottom piece made of 3/16” or 1/4-inch bright basics galvanized steel with a nine-gauge U shape attached at the top to hold the sign. The .25” bottom might be a bit of overkill, but it definitely helps keep you sign anchored to the ground and can withstand re-use. Because of the thick bottom, this one is a little more difficult to push into the ground, but the thick bottom rung of the same material makes it totally doable.

The Heavy-Duty H Frame yard signs are more expensive compared to the thinner constructed ones, but the yard signs will have a much more stable look to them, and if what you’re selling is quality construction this would probably be the best option. If you place signs in a windy intersection, it will also be the best option. Many promotion companies have learned to have a mix of these stronger stakes for certain locations and cheaper stakes for areas that have less wind or are going to be used only one time.

Author: Jon Gainer, President Stakeworld.com

An Easy Way to Make a Living Wreath

When I think of wreaths, my first thoughts are of a pine Christmas wreath or a decorated straw wreath hanging on a door. I love the way holiday wreaths make an ordinary front door jump with welcome. My mother preferred a planted wreath that she would place on our holiday dinner table. A living wreath combines the decorative beauty of traditional holiday wreaths with live plants. They can be used as table centerpieces, door hangings or even as an herb garden.

She would buy a wire box wreath form to hold the medium and then plant it with all types of herbs and greens. Her wreaths would add color and a marvelous fragrance to our Christmas dinner. It is a wonderful memory of my youth. I also remember that it was a lot of work. She would labor over what medium to hold the needed moisture for the plants and where to get it during the late fall. She also struggled with how to hide the unsightly wire frame.

Since I wanted to add this tradition to my family’s holiday, I decided to try to make a holiday living wreath. As I was looking for the supplies, I came across Mosser Lee’s Living Wreath. Mosser Lee must have been listening to the difficulties that my mother had in making a living wreath.

The Mosser Lee living wreath frames are simple and easy to use. The form and long fibered sphagnum moss are ingeniously formed so all I must do is water it and place my herbs and pine boughs into the moss through the netting. They advise that I use a water-soluble fertilizer in the water when I dunk the wreath for its initial bath. The fertilizer will help the herbs to continue to develop roots and grow.

What a nice invention. Easy for me to keep my Mother’s Christmas tradition alive.

Article By David Epstein, Mosser Lee Company

Reverse Osmosis Membrane Cleaning Process

Reverse osmosis or RO is a process used in commercial water purification to remove solids and particulate from feed water into cleaner water called permeate which is then used in everything from drinking water to water used in industrial processes.

The process works by using pressure to force the dirty water through a series of very fine filters called a semipermeable membrane trapping the particulates and allowing the water molecules to flow through the system. This process is very effective and is used in a large portion of water treatment systems.

The problem is that over time, the membrane will trap so many particles that it will start to block the water flow and reduce the efficiency of the entire system. Replacing the filter with a new filter is the solution but it can significantly add the overall cost of the process.  The membrane itself doesn’t need to be replaced every time it just needs to be cleaned, removing the particles to allow the water flow to be increased. Cleaning the membrane has become an efficient way to restore the usability of the membrane and reduce the costs compared to replacing the entire unit.

Reverse osmosis membrane cleaning has proven that when done properly the membranes can be reused several times before the entire unit needs complete replacement. By using specific chemicals, it can help release the particles from the membrane thus restoring the filter back to a usable state. Some companies can even test the membrane pre-cleaning and post cleaning to determine how many more times the membrane can be used and maintain the level of quality filtering.

By monitoring the life cycle of a membrane, companies can not only reduce costs associated with new replacement filters but can know how much longer a membrane can be used and plan ahead for the costs of complete replacements.

This is a cool process that is used everyday and takes a complicated and costly problem and solving it with a basic concept of cleaning rather than replacing. While the process is not simple, the idea that a filter need not be thrown out but merely cleaned is very cool!

The information above was provided by Ron Hoolahan , President, All Water Systems