Buckeye Relief

Background

Located in Ohio off the shores of Lake Erie, Buckeye Relief is a pioneer in the cannabis industry. Established in 2017, Buckeye Relief has since expanded to two levels in the flowering rooms which gives them an effective 50,000 square feet of flowering space. They consistently harvest one of the three rooms every three weeks, a cycle that leads to cloning and transplanting at the same rate. This operational rhythm underscores their dedication to maintaining a steady supply of safe, reliable, and high-quality medical marijuana.

As the Director of IT, John F. Grafton oversees the technology infrastructure vital to companywide operations. His role includes managing the corporate network, enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, and both physical and technical security measures across all facilities.

"We are a Level I cultivator and fully vertically integrated, which means we handle everything from cultivation to processing.  As one of the largest cultivators by square footage, we are also the only manufacturer that supplies every single dispensary (over 120) in the State of Ohio. Lastly, we're also the sole Ohio producer of national brands like Wana Gummies and Willie's Reserve, and oversee a broad product range along with three Amplify dispensaries across the state."

The Challenge

Ohio is the seventh most populous state with almost 12 million residents, and their medical program is among the most regulated in the country, upholding public safety with lab-tested products, child-resistant packaging, and age verification. In 2023, Ohio became the 24th state to legalize medical-use cannabis with 57% of voters in favor, and Buckeye Relief was among the cannabis cultivators who received permission to expand growing operations beyond its current 50,000 square feet. 

“We're growing rapidly; our team grew from nine to approximately 240 employees in the last seven years, and we’re gearing up to open three more dispensaries. However, it is not scalable to maintain multiple servers for different camera environments, especially when the retail side (dispensaries) require higher camera density for compliance when compared to cultivation and processing facilities.

Prior to adopting Verkada, Buckeye Relief wrestled with a server-based system that demanded extensive maintenance and manual updates, challenges that were magnified by the high retention requirements for security footage due to state regulations. The need for a solution that could efficiently manage the vast growing spaces of the farms—and meet the security needs of the dispensaries—was becoming increasingly critical.

Why Verkada

"Switching to Verkada's cloud solution drastically reduced our reliance on physical servers and their requirement for ongoing maintenance. Once we saw Verkada in action, the decision was clear. This upgrade simplified and transformed how we manage security across our facilities, with greater flexibility and reduced overhead costs."

The transition to Verkada marked a significant shift, moving from a maintenance-heavy server system to a streamlined, cloud-based platform. Verkada's hybrid cloud cameras offer up to 365 days of onboard storage and unlimited cloud archiving, which meets and exceeds industry standards for footage retention, thereby supporting long-term digital evidence management.

Tailored Solutions for Diverse Facilities

• Cultivation Farm: Buckeye Relief's farms require meticulous environmental and video monitoring to ensure the health, quality, and productivity of the plants. Verkada’s SV25 air quality sensor is used in this setting to monitor changes in humidity, temperature, and other variables that can directly affect plant growth. “Sensors have been instrumental in detecting early signs of equipment failures in HVAC systems, potentially saving millions of dollars worth crops and product.”

• Dispensaries: In the dispensaries, high-resolution cameras protect high-value products and monitor cash transactions. Viewing stations installed in key areas enable continuous monitoring – up to 300 camera feeds – for transaction security and regulatory compliance. The upcoming Helix integration will link video footage with point-of-sale systems, further enhancing security and operational oversight.

Strengthening Security and Operational Efficiency

"The days of complex, manual updates and downtime are gone. Accessing new features is as easy as logging in and clicking a button, a process that takes just minutes due to the system’s ease of use."

Automatic software and firmware updates have reduced the need for manual maintenance, delivering the latest features and security enhancements over-the-air. The integration of security and environmental monitoring systems has streamlined operations, markedly reducing IT overhead while providing situational awareness across facilities. Real-time video security and air quality sensors with automated alerts support proactive incident detection and compliant operations.

Simplified Investigations with AI-Powered Analytics

"Instead of searching through hours of footage, you can draw a box around an area and see exactly when something went missing. With AI-powered search, this becomes even easier.”

Actionable insights facilitate day-to-day security management and incident response time. Using AI-powered search, John can type a query into the search bar to quickly pinpoint specific events with people or vehicles. If he needs to locate a lost package, he can simply type, “Person holding FedEx box” into the Command search bar to identify and review footage of a person holding a similar box. He can also search “FedEx truck at [insert specific camera or site]” to track the whereabouts of a particular delivery. 

Rapid Response and Police Cooperation

John and his team receive real-time alerts based on predefined criteria, such as unauthorized access or activity in a designated area. This prompt notification allows them to respond swiftly to potential security threats. Beyond internal security, Verkada’s capabilities help foster a cooperative relationship with local law enforcement. The high-quality footage can be shared for a designated amount of time through email, SMS text message, or a web link. By providing clear and actionable video evidence, Buckeye Relief supports community safety along with investigative processes.

"We assist local law enforcement by providing clear, accessible footage for their investigations. This has proven to be a vital asset for the police when investigating incidents in or around the facility. It not only aids in community safety but also strengthens our partnership with local authorities."

Looking Ahead: Expansion and Continuous Improvement

"As we plan for future expansions, standardizing our security with Verkada is crucial. Our goal is to equip our new facilities with Verkada cameras, avoiding any reliance on outdated legacy systems."

Buckeye Relief's use of Verkada shows how a hybrid cloud solution can greatly enhance security and facility management within the tightly regulated cannabis industry. As they continue to innovate and expand, Buckeye Relief remains at the forefront of the industry in Ohio – with a modern security system that supports them in the background.

See Verkada in action with a personalized demo.