Medical marijuana is growing at Prime Alternative Treatment Centers in Peterborough, and officials promise that the facility is secure.
The facility, located in the Vose Farm Business Center off Route 202, is preparing for its first harvest in February.
“From a security perspective, we’re among the toughest places in town, more than pharmacies and certainly up there with banks,” said Brett Sicklick, CEO of Prime Alternative Treatment Centers, which runs the Peterborough facility and its Merrimack-based distribution center.
“I don’t think it’s a risk at all.”
Sicklick said there are redundant alarm systems and lockdown procedures. Security is also tight at the distribution centers.
“Anybody coming to our [distribution] facility has to be a registered patient, first and foremost,” he said. “We don’t let anybody into the building that isn’t a registered caretaker or patient.”
When the plan to put the facility on Vose Farm Road was made, concerns rose about its proximity to ConVal High School.
“I haven’t thought about it a lot since it first came up,” Principal Brian Pickering said.
He said the high school is a closed campus, meaning students must have specific permission to leave the property, like an outside educational opportunity or job requirements.
“Regardless of location, it’s just a question of what risks are there and what security measures are in place,” he said.
“As long as there are policies, and we also have our own policies, I’m not concerned about it.”
Peterborough Police Chief Scott Guinard said he could not detail the department’s security plans for the facility, but confirmed that there is a direct alarm in place.
“Police will respond like we would to any other alarm,” he said.
“Everything significant is controlled,” said Sicklick.
Brandon Latham can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 228.