Florida’s cannabis industry is governed by a comprehensive set of regulations overseen by the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), ensuring security protocols are strict but specific.
What Florida Law Actually Requires
Under Florida Statute § 381.986, applicable to Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs), several mandatory security measures exist for facilities involved in cultivation, processing, storing, dispensing, and distribution. These include:
- 24/7 video surveillance with time-stamped recordings, retained for at least 45 days.
- A fully operational alarm system equipped with motion detectors, duress, panic, and hold-up alarms.
- Adequate dusk-to-dawn outdoor lighting.
- Secure storage of cannabis in locked rooms or vaults.
- Presence of at least two employees, or two contract security personnel, on-site where marijuana activities occur.
However, nothing in the text explicitly states that those on-site security personnel must be armed. The statute mandates staffing levels but leaves the determination of armed versus unarmed status up to the operator and contracting entities.
Licensing for Armed Security Guards
Florida law requires individual security agents to obtain a Class G Statewide Firearm License from FDACS in order to carry a firearm in a security role. Absent this licensure, any on-site security personnel must operate unarmed.
Industry Best Practices
While armed guards are not a legal requirement, many in the industry recommend them as a best practice. Security advisory firms emphasize that armed guards serve both as a deterrent and rapid-response option during high-risk scenarios. Example benefits include:
- Strong visual deterrence of potential theft or unauthorized access.
- Faster physical response to armed intrusion or attempted diversion.
- Enhanced oversight of customer interactions in dispensaries or loading zones.
Armed guards are often supplemented by 24/7 surveillance, access control systems, and alarm monitoring for layered protection.
What This Means for Florida Distributors
- Compliance is Simple, Implementation is Flexible
They must meet all statutory requirements—video, alarms, lighting, security staffing—but are free to contract armed or unarmed personnel, depending on business risk tolerance and operational posture. - If Using Armed Personnel, They Must Be Licensed
Operators choosing armed security must verify that guards hold a Class G firearm license. - Risk-Based Decision-Making
Insurance carriers and investors may require armed security to mitigate potential loss from high-value inventory. It’s critical to document a comprehensive security plan. - Ongoing Training & Policy Enforcement
Guards—armed or not—should receive role-specific training covering use-of-force, duress, emergency protocols, and cannabis-specific handling.
In Summary
Florida law for cannabis distributors does not mandate armed security guards. Instead, it requires licensed, on-site personnel and stringent camera, alarm, and facility safeguards. However, industry norms recommend considering armed guards—especially in roles involving cash handling, high-value inventory transfers, or retail customer interaction—provided they are properly licensed, trained, and integrated into a broader security ecosystem.
A strategic, well-documented security plan will demonstrate compliance, responsiveness, and threat mitigation—whether using armed guards or their unarmed counterparts.