Cannabis Security Compliance in Michigan: What to Know

For a licensed cannabis business in Michigan, security isn't just protection — it's a condition of your license. The state's Cannabis Regulatory Agency sets expectations for camera coverage, video retention, and controlled access, and falling short can put your license at risk. This is a plain-English overview of what those requirements generally cover and how to build a system that satisfies them. (Rules change and specifics vary by license type — always confirm current requirements with the CRA and your compliance advisor.)

Why cannabis security is a licensing issue

Unlike most businesses, a cannabis facility's security system is part of what the state reviews. Camera coverage, retention, and access control aren't just good practice — they're expectations tied to your license, checked during the application process and subject to review afterward. That changes how you should think about security: it has to satisfy the regulator and deter real-world theft in a cash-heavy, high-value environment, at the same time. A system designed for one but not the other leaves you exposed.

Camera coverage and positioning

The CRA generally expects cameras to cover the areas that matter most — points of sale, limited-access areas, entrances and exits, and areas where product is stored, handled, or destroyed — at a resolution and from angles that make footage genuinely useful. "Some cameras near the register" doesn't meet the bar. We design coverage to the required areas and angles so the system holds up to review, and so you actually have usable footage if the state or an investigator asks.

Video retention requirements

Coverage is only half of it — you also have to keep the footage. Michigan requires cannabis facilities to retain recordings for a defined period, which means storage has to be sized correctly from day one. Undersized storage that overwrites footage too soon is a compliance failure waiting to happen. We size storage to hold the full required retention period so your recordings are always available when they're needed.

Controlling limited-access and vault areas

Access control is central to cannabis compliance. Vaults, grow rooms, processing areas, and other limited-access areas need to be restricted to authorized personnel and — critically — logged, so there's a record of who entered and when. This protects high-value product and creates the accountability trail the state expects. We design access control that restricts and logs entry to exactly these areas.

Building a system that passes review

The throughline is that cannabis security should be designed to the requirements from the start, not retrofitted after a failed inspection. That means the right camera coverage and positioning, correctly sized retention, restricted and logged access to sensitive areas, and NDAA-compliant equipment throughout. We design our cannabis security systems to current CRA expectations and build in the coverage, retention, and access logging that review depends on — while always recommending you confirm the latest rules with your compliance advisor, since regulations evolve.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Michigan require cannabis footage to be retained?

Michigan requires cannabis facilities to retain footage for a defined period. We size storage to hold the full required retention period. Confirm the current specific duration with the CRA or your compliance advisor, as rules can change.

What areas need camera coverage in a cannabis facility?

Generally points of sale, limited-access areas, entrances and exits, and areas where product is stored, handled, or destroyed — at a resolution and angle that make footage useful. We design coverage to these required areas.

Do you design systems to pass CRA review?

Yes. We design cannabis systems to current CRA expectations for coverage, retention, and access logging, using NDAA-compliant equipment — and we recommend confirming current rules with your compliance advisor.