What You Need to Know About Video Retention in the Cannabis Industry
The Cannabis industry is growing quickly. However, since growing, selling and promoting this drug is only legal in some states, running a business in the industry can be challenging. Keeping track of all the regulations and staying in compliance with the law requires a lot of knowledge on what’s happening in the space. This is also true when we look at the specific requirements surrounding video recording and retention. Want to know more about video surveillance and retention policies in the Cannabis industry? In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know. As we mentioned in the first post of this series, California is leading the way when it comes to video retention in the Cannabis industry. We can look at this state for an example of what to expect in other areas. Here, any business in the Cannabis space must retain video surveillance footage for 90 days. There are also requirements for a minimum resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels and 15 frames per second. Each state may have different requirements and in some cases, each municipality within a state will have its own requirements. What happens if you’re not in compliance? If you aren’t in compliance with video retention requirements, your business could be on the line. Depending on the situation, the consequences could range drastically. The Bureau of Cannabis Control has three tiers of disciplinary guidelines. Here’s a look at the minimum and maximum actions that can be taken in each tier. Tier 1 Minimum: revocation stayed, 5 to 15-day suspension, a fine or a combination of a suspension and fine. Maximum: revocation Tier 2 Minimum: revocation stayed, 15 to 30-day suspension, a fine or a combination of a suspension and fine. Maximum: revocation Tier 3 Minimum: revocation stayed, 45-day suspension, a fine or a combination of a suspension and fine. Maximum: revocation This is why it’s so important to have a handle on video retention and storage in high-risk industries, like the Cannabis industry. How to reduce storage The costs related to storing video are soaring, and these costs can make it a challenge for businesses to stay compliant. The good news is that you can reduce the complexity and cost of video surveillance and retention. With the right technology, you can make CAPEX costs much lower and simplify the process of managing footage. For example, using Axis ZipStream with a video management system like Milestone XProtect can drastically reduce storage. We’ve seen storage volume reduce to 20 percent of what was originally calculated for hardware. Reporting and compliance It’s important to note that even with the reduced storage volume, you still need to prove that you can follow retention laws. You have to show that you’re able to store footage for the length of time the law requires. This is where having software that reports on retention is helpful. Boring Toolbox retention reporting will provide this information. It will show you any differences between the retention of your footage and what’s required. These solutions pay for themselves on first use because Axis ZipStream helps you save money and Boring Toolbox allows you to prove compliance. For this reason, reporting solutions are extremely valuable. They can quickly generate reports and spreadsheets for auditing purposes. Many companies find that this becomes a huge benefit if compliance ever comes into question. Wrapping up Are you looking for a better way to manage video surveillance and retention for your business? Using the right technology can make staying in compliance simple. For example, a camera reporting solution can give you all the information you need in a couple of clicks. Tools like this can help you prove compliance with video retention laws. That can act as a form of insurance for your business. It may also protect you from any potential legal action. Want to continue learning about video retention and compliance in other industries? Keep an eye on our blog for more posts in this series.
