Security Cameras for Marijuana Businesses: A State-by-State Compliance Guide

In the ever-growing legal cannabis industry of 2025, security and surveillance have become paramount for dispensaries, grow facilities, and transportation businesses. With state laws mandating 24/7 monitoring, secure storage, and proper camera placement, selecting the right cannabis video security is not only about protection—it's about compliance and the future of your business.

At CCTV Camera World, we've helped cannabis businesses of all sizes, from large grow operations to small dispensaries, helping them meet state requirements and protecting their bottom line. Whether you need 4K surveillance, face recognition, and smart detection, or just a budget-friendly system for compliance, this guide provides the following:

• State-by-state security camera requirements (updated for 2025)
• IP vs. Coaxial cameras: Selecting the right option
• Optimal security cameras for dispensaries and grow operations
• How to calculate and meet storage requirements

Failure to comply with state security requirements for businesses can result in fines, license revocation, and legal risks. This guide will aid you in making informed decisions to maintain your marijuana business's security and compliance.

Marijuana Legalization by State as of 2025
The map above provides a quick visual overview of marijuana legalization across the United States in 2025. States are categorized by legalization type—medical, recreational, CBD-only, or none—highlighting how cannabis laws vary significantly across the country. This variation directly impacts security requirements for cannabis businesses, making it crucial to understand your state's regulations when designing a compliant surveillance system.

Table of Contents

1. Choosing the Right Cannabis Surveillance System
   • IP Camera Systems for Marijuana Dispensaries or Small Grow Operations
   • Resolution & Video Quality for Cannabis Surveillance
   • Frame Rates & Smooth Video Monitoring
   • Camera System Type: IP PoE vs. Coaxial
   • IP Camera Systems for Dispensaries & Small Grow Ops
   • HD-over-Coaxial Systems for Large Grow Facilities
2. Cannabis Security Camera Laws & Compliance for 2025
3. Minimum Cannabis Surveillance Requirements by State
4. How to Store & Manage Cannabis Surveillance Footage
   • How to Calculate Storage Needs for Cannabis Security Systems
   • Best Practices for Optimizing Cannabis Surveillance Storage

Choosing the Right Surveillance System for Your Cannabis Business

As the regulations above demonstrate, security camera requirements for cannabis businesses vary by state, which makes it difficult to determine the equipment you need. The best system for your business must meet legal requirements and protect your business, inventory, and employees.

With experience in cannabis security camera solutions, we've helped dispensaries and grow operations understand compliance requirements and buy effective surveillance systems. We'll help you understand essential factors like camera resolution, IP PoE vs. coaxial systems, and storage capacity, ensuring you meet regulations without overspending.

Need help selecting the right marijuana security camera solution? Contact our experts for a custom quote at 716-229-0080.

IP Camera Systems for Marijuana Dispensaries or Small Grow Operations

IP cameras have a limit of 300ft for a single cable run from a recorder, or network equipment. These runs can be extended by using PoE extenders or PoE switches. However, using extensions adds more devices that need to be maintained, and more potential points of failure. More importantly extenders and switches are not weather proof so using them outdoors is not easily done. Any networking equipment will require additional enclosures for outdoor use. More equipment and devices increase upkeep and maintenance costs associated with a security system.

Like mentioned before, for smaller grow operations or dispensaries where long runs are not necessary, then an IP camera system may be the right choice. IP cameras offer more features and oftentimes have better visual clarity than their coaxial counterparts. Advanced detection features like digital tripwire, and intrusion detection offered on our smart security cameras are great for monitoring access to important areas or cash registers.

Resolution & Video Quality

Our systems are ideal for high-quality cannabis surveillance monitoring, ensuring no detail goes unnoticed. The resolution, which is the size of a security camera's recorded video, directly impacts the level of detail captured in the picture. Cameras with high resolution and more detail use more storage, and vice versa; lower-resolution cameras require less storage.

Missouri, Nevada, and New Jersey's requirements of 1080p are a good baseline to start with, mostly because 480p and 720p are outdated technologies. You’ll want to consider a minimum of 1080p HD video unless your goal is to make your system as cheap as possible just to meet regulations. 1080p will ensure the cameras are able to see facial detail up to 20 feet, which is the typical requirement for states that don’t state a specific resolution.

Here are general recommendations for cannabis business cameras:

• 2MP 1080p HD cameras for most areas and general surveillance
• 4MP 2K cameras or 8MP 4K for entrances and points of sale or transfer
• 8MP 4K cameras for monitoring parking lots and plate details on parked vehicles
• Specialized license plate cameras to reliably record tags and plates on moving vehicles

Frame Rates & Video Smoothness

Frame rate, measured in frames per second (fps), determines how smoothly video records and plays. Higher frame rates capture motion more clearly but also increase storage usage, while lower frame rates conserve space but may result in choppy footage.

Most states require at least 15 fps, which is sufficient for identifying faces and movements within 20 feet. However, higher frame rates are recommended for high-traffic areas like entrances and point-of-sale (POS) stations to ensure smooth motion capture.

Here are general recommendations for frame rates in cannabis security systems:

• 15 fps—Minimum recommended for compliance; suitable for general surveillance.
• 20–30 fps—Best for entrances, POS, and high-traffic areas where clear motion capture is essential.
• 10 fps or lower—Acceptable for storage rooms, grow areas, or low-activity zones to save storage.

Camera System Type: IP PoE vs. Coaxial

The best type of commercial camera system for cannabis use largely depends on the type of business and the size of the location. PoE camera systems are the best option for small dispensaries and indoor grow operations, while HD Analog surveillance systems are a better option for large grow operations and processing facilities that need long cable runs over 600 ft.

IP Camera Systems for Dispensaries & Small Grow Operations

IP cameras provide high-resolution video and advanced analytics over a single Ethernet cable using Power over Ethernet technology, which makes them ideal for cannabis stores and small processing facilities or indoor grow ops. They have a 328-foot cable limit per run, which limits their usefulness in larger warehouses and greenhouses. While you can use PoE extenders or special PoE switches for longer distances, they require more upkeep and increase maintenance expenses. Outdoor PoE camera installations also require additional junction boxes and enclosures to protect pigtails and extension devices, if used.

Despite these challenges, IP cameras offer superior features, including smart motion detection, face detection, and other smart detection algorithms that are extremely helpful for monitoring restricted areas, cash registers, and points of entry. They’re also easier to install and set up when using a plug-and-play PoE NVR for any cameras that connect directly to it. However, installing and managing an IP system can get tricky in larger camera systems over a network.

HD-over-Coaxial Systems for Large Grow Facilities & Greenhouses

For large grow operations and processing warehouses, HD-over-Coax systems are more cost-effective and easier to maintain. Siamese coax cables can run up to 500 ft or more depending on the camera’s resolution and power requirements. Analog and HD coax cameras rely solely on a DVR and a power box, minimizing failure points and simplifying replacements, unlike large network-based IP camera systems that need additional PoE switches and other networking equipment.

Another plus for coaxial systems is the lower upfront cost; they are 5–25% cheaper than similar IP setups, which makes them a fantastic option for businesses that want affordability and durability over advanced analytics.

For further technical information about the differences, we suggest reading our post on IP Cameras vs Analog Security Cameras.

Cannabis Security Camera Laws & Compliance for 2025

Cannabis businesses are under heavy scrutiny and require extensive regulations due to the nature of growing, processing, and selling a psychoactive substance. Dispensaries, grow operations, and transportation companies must comply with these regulations, as failure to do so can result in heavy fines, license revocation, and legal penalties. Most states require a minimum of 24/7 video recording and storage for 30 days or more.

Below is an overview of what most states require:

• Continuous video surveillance covering all key areas, including entrances, exits, and storage rooms.
• Minimum camera resolution and frame rates for clear identification of employees and customers.
• Secure storage of recorded footage for 30 to 90 days, depending on state laws.
• Tamper-proof video recording systems that prevent unauthorized access or deletion.
• Some states require a mirrored off-site backup.

Each state has specific requirements for camera resolution, framerate, and video storage retention, as well as system monitoring, alerting, and maintenance. The table below lists the regulations for marijuana security cameras in 2025. Since legislation and associated rules are constantly changing, we recommend business owners also check with local county and city regulators for additional compliance requirements.

Recreational marijuana dispensaries and cultivation security camera system minimum* requirements by state**

* These are the bare minimum requirements as outlined by state regulations and subject to change. Most states require separate backups of videos of incidents as they occur for evidence.
** We are not lawyers, and the information presented here may be obsolete. This table does not provide legal advice. Before choosing a security camera system, confirm with your state or municipal licensure.
*** All states require 24/7 continuous recording.
**** Currently, some regulations are proposed, or medical dispensary rules are being used. We recommend contacting your state legislature or licensing department for clarification.

How to Store & Manage Cannabis Surveillance Footage

When setting up security cameras for a cannabis dispensary or grow operation, video storage is the other half of the battle. Most states require continuous 24/7 recording and storage retention times between 30 and 90 days. However, specific regulations around resolution are vague in some states, often only stating that footage must be clear enough to discern details like facial features up to 20 feet away. This leaves businesses to determine exactly what resolution they need to satisfy the requirements.

Compliance is just one factor. For footage to be useful in security investigations, it's a good idea to install higher-resolution cameras than the legal minimum. Of course, higher resolution means more storage.

Fortunately, there are strategies to optimize storage and retention. But first, let's figure out how much storage you actually need based on the number of cameras, resolution, and required retention period.

How to Calculate Storage Needs for a Cannabis Security System

Estimating storage requirements for a cannabis surveillance system can be complex, but careful planning will ensure compliance. We recommend overestimating storage needs by 10–15% to accommodate future camera additions and variations in recording usage.

To simplify this process, you can use our Security NVR and DVR Hard Drive Calculator, which can help provide an estimate based on your setup.

Steps to Estimate Your Storage Needs

1. Determine Camera Requirements
   • Estimate how many cameras you need and what resolution each location requires.
   • General surveillance: 1080p (2MP)
   • Sensitive areas: 2K (4MP)
   • Entrances & Point-of-Sale: 4K (8MP)
2. Use the Storage Calculator
   • Click “Add Cameras” for each resolution you plan to use (1080p, 2K, or 4K).
   • Enter the number of cameras for each resolution.
   • Set Compression to H.264 for an overestimation.
   • Select the Frame Rate your state requires (at least 15 fps if unspecified).
   • Input the Days of Recording based on state retention laws.
3. Review Your Total Storage Needs
   • The “Total HDD Required” field will display the recommended storage.
   • For example, a 32-camera system with the following requires more than 40 TB of storage for 30 days of recording.
     • 16 x 1080p (2MP) cameras for general surveillance
     • 8 x 4MP cameras for sensitive areas
       
     • 8 x 8MP (4K) cameras for entrances & POS
       
   • In states that require 90 days, the recommended storage triples to over 120 TB.

Best Practices for Optimizing Cannabis Surveillance Storage

Considering most personal computers have no more than 1 or 2 TB of internal drive space, it can be daunting to understand how to efficiently store 40 to 120 times that amount of data. Fortunately, there are a few methods and technologies you can use to optimize your storage space.

Use H.265 Video Encoding

All of our systems support H.265 encoding, which is a newer and more efficient video encoding technology that offers up to 50% savings compared to H.264. In fact, most of our systems have H.265 enabled by default. However, H.265 does have more processing overhead that can affect an NVR's performance, so we don’t recommend setting all channels to H.265 if you fill the NVR’s channels with cameras.

You can use the Storage Calculator to estimate how much savings H.265 will provide. However, as we suggest, to ensure you have enough storage space, calculate and use the H.264 estimation.

Optimize Frame Rates

Frame rates are another straightforward and simple optimization that can be used. State laws often mandate a minimum of 15 frames per second, yet your cameras might have default frame rates of 20 or 30 fps. Going into the encoding settings and knocking it down to 15 or 10 fps can offer anywhere from 20% to 50% in savings right away.

Implement a Schedule and Substream Recording Strategy

Carefully planning and setting recording settings and schedules can significantly optimize storage. While most states require continuous 24/7 recording, some allow motion-activated recording, which decreases usage by up to 50% or more by only recording when motion happens.

Smart Detection and motion-based recording are also great ways to set up alerts that some states require your system to have. Our systems support email alerts and push notifications to smartphones. Our systems also support "Camera Offline" alerts, as required by some states.

Substream recording is a better method because it keeps a low-resolution feed going all the time and only records full-resolution footage when motion is detected or a smart detection rule is activated. This strategy meets most storage time regulations while conserving space for critical incidents that need to be investigated.

It also doesn’t hurt to verify with your licensing agency if there is room for interpretation on storage requirements and if they’ll allow more aggressive scheduling or motion/smart-based recording strategies.

For maximum efficiency:

• Enable motion-activated recording where legally allowed.
• Minimize false triggers and recordings by using SMD which records only when a person or vehicle is detected, or use smart event detection rules such as an intrusion box to trigger recording when activity is detected in specific areas.
• When allowed, implement a substream recording schedule to balance continuous monitoring for reduced storage costs.

Common Cannabis Security Questions