By Jordan Green
BAY CITY — If you think the marijuana business is playing around when it comes to delivering the goods, think again. It’s under a close watch.
Marijunana Security Operations in Bay City recently became licensed in the secure transportation of medical marijuana throughout Michigan. The company will soon be licensed for recreational transport.
Grady Emmons, CEO of the company, discovered the opportunity in 2018 when he realized that marijunana would soon be legal — there would be a demand for licensed transporters to carry the weed from the farms to the dispensaries.
Medical and recreational dispensaries and farms are required to use a licensed transporter to move their product.
“The person who processes it, the dispensaries, things of that sort, cannot move their own goods,” says Brittni Booker, client relations manager at Marijuana Security Operations. “They have to have a licensed transporter do it and that’s why there’s a need for them.”
Booker says the company could have gone into the business sooner but decided to postpone because of the cost and security. The licensing is now $44,000, a significant drop from the previous year’s fee of $66,000.
The training to become a guard is very hands-on, demanding more than 50 hours to get certified to use a baton and pepper spray, and to learn self-defense and even customer service. They also have to qualify for the gun course with an agility test, background check and drug screening.
“Our security guards are fast and they’re very smart,” comments Booker. “They’re taught in every shape or form on how to protect the client and themselves.”
Booker also mentions that the company is primarily a “veteran-led” company with a majority of the guards having either a military or law enforcement background.
Booker says that what sets Marijuana Security Operations apart from other companies is its customer service and high standards, as random drug testing occurs and customer service is part of training.
“We are a low profile company that has high security and we have exceptional customer service,” says Booker.
This business could provide more jobs for the area. Booker states that the company just hired 30 security guards due to upcoming contracts. A recently signed contract will require three security guards 24/7.
