Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

CASSOPOLIS — Midwest Energy and Communications welcomed its first data center customer at its Cassopolis headquarters on May 27. MichiCann, located in Niles, is a medical marihuana grow facility that will supply natural and organic-grown marijuana to Michigan provisioning centers and processors.

The company will use the data center to store surveillance video recordings of the facility to comply with regulations designated by the state; Michigan has very strict and secure regulations around video surveillance of all licensed marijuana facilities. MichiCann currently has 30 high resolution cameras that will record both the interior and exterior of the facility 24/7. The recordings will then be sent to the data center for offsite backup and stored for 45 days.

After discovering that cloud storage was both expensive and impractical, Justin Chandler, chief technology officer and part owner, started searching for other options.

“I wanted to stay local, and I needed flexibility and the ability to grow. MEC’s price and service are unbeatable. Plus, since we are internet customers of MEC, it proved an easy win-win,” Chandler said.

The data center offers business continuity and disaster recovery solutions through critical systems infrastructure, rigorous incremental multi-tier security and reliable cross connects. “We look forward to bringing peace of mind to customers throughout southwest Michigan by providing a space to keep their data and information safe,” said Candy Riem vice president, marketing and member solutions.

MichiCann hopes to officially open its doors in the next couple of weeks after final inspections of the facility. In addition to serving medical providers, the company plans to move into serving recreational businesses soon.

“Compared to traditional commercial growers who use synthetic growing nutrients, MichiCann grows medical marijuana using full organic growing practices. This means the nutrients put into our product are safe and natural without the addition of harmful pesticides and insecticides,” said Chandler. “We’re excited to open our doors as soon as possible.”