Cannabis Retail Store Security Course: Lessons 2026

Lesson 1: The rules that shape the job

Cannabis is legal for adults in Canada, but it is tightly controlled. Under federal law, adults may possess up to 30 grams of legal dried cannabis or equivalent in public. The federal minimum age is 18, and provinces may raise it but not lower it. Selling cannabis to a person under 18 is a serious federal offence that can bring up to 14 years in prison.

Province or territory	Minimum age
Alberta	18
Quebec	21
All other provinces and territories	19

Each province has a regulator that sets store rules, such as the AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis) and the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario). Stores can lose their licence for breaking them, so your work at the door matters.

Training for guards

Alberta: SellSafe certification is mandatory for security staff, whether employed by the store or contracted.
Ontario: everyone working in a cannabis store, including people providing security services, must finish AGCO-approved training, such as CannSell, before their first day.

You are not a police officer. Your arrest powers come mainly from section 494 of the Criminal Code, the same as any private citizen.

Lesson 2: Door and ID checks

Keeping minors out is one of the most important parts of the job. In Alberta no minor (under 18) may enter a licensed cannabis store, even with a parent. In Ontario there is no entry for people under 19. In both provinces, staff must check the ID of anyone who appears to be under 25.

Valid ID in Alberta

Primary ID must be government issued, show a photo, name, date of birth and a unique number, be unexpired, and be an original, not a copy. If the ID seems fake or is unfamiliar, such as ID from another province or country, ask for a second piece of government-issued ID.

Ask for the ID and take it in your hand.
Compare the photo with the person's face.
Check the date of birth and the expiry date.
Look for signs of tampering in good light.
If in doubt, refuse entry politely. Do not keep the ID.

Intoxicated customers

Stores must not sell cannabis to a person who appears intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. Signs include slurred speech, poor balance and loud or disruptive behaviour. Refuse politely and privately if you can. If the person drove, AGLC guidance is to suggest a taxi and offer to call one. If they drive away, note the plate, vehicle model, colour and direction, and notify police right away.

Lesson 3: Store security systems

Cannabis stores are built with layers of security. Alberta's rules are a good example:

System	Alberta requirement
Alarm	Professionally installed and monitored, covering doors, windows, the storage room and movement inside
Panic buttons	At every point-of-sale position
Cameras	24-hour coverage of points of sale, receiving, customer areas and the storage room
Recordings	Kept at least 60 days, and longer if an investigation is pending
Testing	Video system tested weekly, with a log
After hours	All cannabis in a locked showcase or locked storage room for authorized staff only

In Ontario, the AGCO says stores have security cameras inside and outside, cannabis is stored securely, and only staff may handle cannabis before it is purchased. The AGCO can also add conditions to a store's licence, such as having licensed, visibly identifiable security staff whenever the store is open.

Lesson 4: Limits, difficult customers and robbery

Stores may not sell more than 30 grams or equivalent to one person per visit. In Alberta, a sale that would put a person over the limit must not be completed. Watch for people trying to buy for someone under age.

People who are refused may feel embarrassed or angry. Stay calm, explain the rule briefly and give them a way to leave with dignity. Never argue, and never serve someone to avoid trouble.

Preventing theft

Greet every customer. Friendly attention is one of the best ways to prevent theft.
Stay where you can see the entrance and the sales floor.
Report display cases that are broken or left unlocked.
Watch for distraction, such as one person asking questions while another reaches behind the counter.

During a robbery

Stay calm and do what the robber asks. Do not resist, argue or chase.
Keep your hands visible and tell them before you move.
Press a panic button only when it is safe to do so without the robber noticing.
Notice details: height, build, clothing, voice, weapon and direction of escape.

After a robbery

Call 911 and lock the doors if it is safe.
Give first aid if anyone is hurt.
Protect the scene and do not touch what the robber touched.
Ask witnesses to stay, and write your notes before talking with others.

Lesson 5: Opening, closing and reporting

Opening and closing are high-risk times because few staff are present and doors are unlocked.

Opening: walk around the outside first. If you see signs of forced entry, do not go in. Move to a safe place and call police.
Closing: make sure all cannabis is locked away, the alarm is set and no one is hiding inside.
Deliveries: check the driver and paperwork, and keep receiving in camera view.

Report every incident in writing. In Alberta, licensees and staff with information about illegal or stolen cannabis must contact the nearest AGLC office. Treat camera footage and customer ID details as private, and share them only as store policy and the law allow.