Access control installed at US Cannabis facility

Net2 access control has been installed at Highlands Grow in Michigan, a fully licensed industrial-scale cultivator, producing cannabis for medicinal and recreational use.

Based in Lapeer in Michigan, Highlands Grow provide consumable cannabis products to US-based retailers, projects. According to Paxton, the volume of produce they cultivate is of ‘extremely high-market value’ and needed to be secured with an advanced security system as stated by Michigan state law.

Prior to the new Net2 security installation, the Highlands Grow facility was said to be secured by traditional locks and keys which, Paxton believes, meant that they were open to potential security risks.

Highlands Grow used Existo Solutions, a consulting company, who recommended Paxton’s Net2 access control due to its high-security functionality and integration options.

Chris Hernandez, Operations Lead at Existo Solutions, said: “Achieving compliance while growing cannabis in most US states is related to the security and access of the facility. Cultivators who don’t comply can receive up to a $90k fine from the US government, so access control is vitally important to get right.”

For the new security system to meet legal surveillance requirements, cameras reportedly needed to be integrated alongside a remote alert system, which included monitoring 50 cameras, while securing 21 doors, that led to large-scale grow rooms and secure vaults, storing curing cannabis and finished products.

Owners are then said to be able to receive real-time notifications and video clips of potential security risks on individual doors when the facility is at low capacity.

Hernandez continued: “What is very important for the customers in our industry, isn’t just knowing who goes in and out of a facility, it’s who goes up to a door when they are not supposed to. It’s about being aware of who tried to open a vault when no one is there.”

Existo Solutions installed Net2, Paxton’s networked IP access control system, which originally launched into the US market in 2007. Since then, the system has reportedly received consistent updates and integrated with many leading cameras, as well as fire and intruder alarms, according to Paxton.

The system was also integrated with VIVOTEK cameras designed to enable the site to remotely monitor every door on their facility 24/7, using Net2Online software and the Paxton Connect app.

Vandal resistant readers

Hernandez said: “Paxton are our go to when it comes to access control. We like the way Net2 integrates with VIVOTEK cameras, and the system just works every time.

“Net2 has enabled us to provide Highlands Grow with the highest security service package we offer, which is great for them.”

Paxton’s Entry range touch panel designed to be vandal resistant, has also been fitted on the main entrance to the facility, alongside an Entry Premium monitor in the site’s security station. The software has been configured to provide notification alerts on the owner’s smart devices if people are trying to enter the building outside of business hours.

Readers were also fitted across all doors alongside the camera integration to monitor access from internal employees to grow rooms and vaults. These readers are designed to allow different access levels depending on seniority in the company, and time restrictions added to lock down rooms with no need for frequent access.

Hernandez concluded: “I think access control is so important as one of the initial means to manage the workspace and how people move around. There are lots of locked doors in the cannabis industry and opening them using Net2 makes it easy to move around with large plants on carts.”
“Paxton makes our job straightforward. It’s beyond simple, it’s beyond easy, and the technology is so stable, that it’s easy to support.”

Matt Saagman, Director of Cultivation at Highlands Grow, said: “Using Net2 is very smooth. Once I started using the Paxton Connect app, it has been a breeze. Almost too easy.
“As we expand out our facility, we plan to keep building on the current system and we are interested in seeing what else it can do as we grow.”

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