Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Durango's marijuana shops are stepping up their security precautions after Rocky Mountain High was robbed last weekend.
Retail stores and medical dispensaries are investing in additional cameras and panic buttons along with staff training.
Security concerns have long surrounded pot shops because many accept only cash payments. The worries were heightened after a robbery at Rocky Mountain High, where an armed man escaped with about $3,000 in cash after tying up employees on Jan. 31.
Logan Griffith, 19, of Durango and his father, Joe Griffith, 44, were arrested in connection with the incident and face several charges.
All Colorado pot shops have security cameras as required by state regulations. The Marijuana Enforcement Division requires cameras at each point of sale, everywhere marijuana products are displayed and all areas where marijuana is weighed, packaged or prepared, among other requirements.
The agency also mandates commercial-grade door locks and security alarm systems.
At Durango Organics, the shop has more video cameras than required, and panic buttons are located throughout the business, co-owner Jonny Radding said.
While last weekend's incident wasn't the first robbery of a Durango marijuana shop, it was perhaps the most brazen.
"I am concerned," Radding said. "It's a negative spotlight for the industry."
In August, two young men walked into Animas Herbal Wellness and fired pepper spray at an employee before grabbing a jar of marijuana and fleeing, according to police.
Two 17-year-olds were arrested and charged with felony aggravated robbery.
Some marijuana businesses are working work closely with police. Santé Alternative Wellness has scheduled a staff training session with the Durango Police Department on how to react in emergencies.
"The police and us are cooperating with one another to make the dispensary as safe as possible," said Tim Baker, manager at Santé.
Durango police have expressed concern about the large amounts of cash on hand at marijuana shops.
"The public safety concern of ours right now is the cash transactions that happen because it's an enticement for people," Lt. Ray Shupe, a spokesman for the department, said in January.
The cash-on-hand problem stems from inadequate access to traditional banking. Most banks, which are tightly regulated by the federal government, refuse to work with Colorado's marijuana businesses while pot remains illegal under federal law.
As a result, marijuana shops often end up with large amounts of cash stuffed in safes.
There are exceptions. Durango Organics has a bank account, Radding said. The account allows the shop to process checks and credit-card transactions and enables employees to be paid by check or direct deposit.
Radding said the bank is aware of his line of work, but he declined to identify the institution. Durango Organics pays a premium for the bank's trouble, which involves extra scrutiny, he said.
"There are banks out there like the one we're working with that are going to charge operating fees in order to manage the account," he said. "They do this to make sure the business is not involved in any unsavory business transactions."
Even though Durango Organics has a bank account, it often deals with other marijuana businesses that do not. That means cash remains a necessity.
Transporting cash or marijuana products presents another obstacle. Many marijuana businesses use armored cars or armed couriers.
Radding said bankers will have an increasing financial incentive to work with marijuana businesses as more states consider legalizing medical and retail marijuana. Eventually, he believes, banks will go along.
For now, Durango's marijuana businesses hope to avoid attracting opportunistic thieves.
"We hope Durango doesn't become a situation like Denver where you have to have security guards out front," Radding said. "We're not that type of community."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: The Durango Herald 02/07/2015 | Pot shops step up security
Author: Chuck Slothower
Contact: cslothower@durangoherald.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Durango Herald | Durango's source for breaking news, weather, sports, local events and entertainment - frontpage
Retail stores and medical dispensaries are investing in additional cameras and panic buttons along with staff training.
Security concerns have long surrounded pot shops because many accept only cash payments. The worries were heightened after a robbery at Rocky Mountain High, where an armed man escaped with about $3,000 in cash after tying up employees on Jan. 31.
Logan Griffith, 19, of Durango and his father, Joe Griffith, 44, were arrested in connection with the incident and face several charges.
All Colorado pot shops have security cameras as required by state regulations. The Marijuana Enforcement Division requires cameras at each point of sale, everywhere marijuana products are displayed and all areas where marijuana is weighed, packaged or prepared, among other requirements.
The agency also mandates commercial-grade door locks and security alarm systems.
At Durango Organics, the shop has more video cameras than required, and panic buttons are located throughout the business, co-owner Jonny Radding said.
While last weekend's incident wasn't the first robbery of a Durango marijuana shop, it was perhaps the most brazen.
"I am concerned," Radding said. "It's a negative spotlight for the industry."
In August, two young men walked into Animas Herbal Wellness and fired pepper spray at an employee before grabbing a jar of marijuana and fleeing, according to police.
Two 17-year-olds were arrested and charged with felony aggravated robbery.
Some marijuana businesses are working work closely with police. Santé Alternative Wellness has scheduled a staff training session with the Durango Police Department on how to react in emergencies.
"The police and us are cooperating with one another to make the dispensary as safe as possible," said Tim Baker, manager at Santé.
Durango police have expressed concern about the large amounts of cash on hand at marijuana shops.
"The public safety concern of ours right now is the cash transactions that happen because it's an enticement for people," Lt. Ray Shupe, a spokesman for the department, said in January.
The cash-on-hand problem stems from inadequate access to traditional banking. Most banks, which are tightly regulated by the federal government, refuse to work with Colorado's marijuana businesses while pot remains illegal under federal law.
As a result, marijuana shops often end up with large amounts of cash stuffed in safes.
There are exceptions. Durango Organics has a bank account, Radding said. The account allows the shop to process checks and credit-card transactions and enables employees to be paid by check or direct deposit.
Radding said the bank is aware of his line of work, but he declined to identify the institution. Durango Organics pays a premium for the bank's trouble, which involves extra scrutiny, he said.
"There are banks out there like the one we're working with that are going to charge operating fees in order to manage the account," he said. "They do this to make sure the business is not involved in any unsavory business transactions."
Even though Durango Organics has a bank account, it often deals with other marijuana businesses that do not. That means cash remains a necessity.
Transporting cash or marijuana products presents another obstacle. Many marijuana businesses use armored cars or armed couriers.
Radding said bankers will have an increasing financial incentive to work with marijuana businesses as more states consider legalizing medical and retail marijuana. Eventually, he believes, banks will go along.
For now, Durango's marijuana businesses hope to avoid attracting opportunistic thieves.
"We hope Durango doesn't become a situation like Denver where you have to have security guards out front," Radding said. "We're not that type of community."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: The Durango Herald 02/07/2015 | Pot shops step up security
Author: Chuck Slothower
Contact: cslothower@durangoherald.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Durango Herald | Durango's source for breaking news, weather, sports, local events and entertainment - frontpage
