Does Square UK accept CBD sales?

[WatersideSoapCo]

Does Square UK accept sales in CBD based products?

[k_atie]

Hey @WatersideSoapCo, congrats on your first post and welcome to the Seller Community!

Unfortunately, Square cannot support card-processing payments for CBD-related services and products in the UK. 

Do keep an eye out on the Seller Community, though. We'll be sure to announce it if this changes.

[PeoplesCBD]

@WatersideSoapCo Typical backward Americans trying to control what we do in the UK. They should get back to sorting their own messy country out. 

Try Trust Payments or Viva Wallet both will accept you with the appropriate certification paperwork .

Good Luck!

[Breffni]

Hi @PeoplesCBD, thanks for your comment. 

The sale of CBD through Square is legal in the USA but not here in the UK currently. 

Due to regulations in the UK, card networks and other financial institutions have determined that certain transactions, while legal, present high-risk exposure to Square, our merchants and their customers.

Should these regulations change in the future, Square UK will work towards the acceptance of sales of CBD products and services. 

[wecann]

I've been keeping an eye on the CBD merchant account issues for several years now and was one of the first companies in the UK to start recommending brands to the right providers. Three years down the line we are still hearing horror stories about people losing their merchant accounts, despite being approved and running them well for the duration.

Something I have never gotten to the bottom of is who is actually pulling the strings and what the main concern is. I've always been led to believe that Visa and Mastercard do not want their names alongside a market that is so closely linked with the combustion of recreational cannabis, nor the legal implications around medical claims and other things.

That said, we have seen two or three major high street retailers use the likes of PayPal and Adyen who to this day will not allow a small business to use their platform for anything hemp or CBD related. 

With Square's recent onboarding of US businesses and their overall understanding of the industry, is this likely to help the UK and is this an area that is under discussion? 

I would love to have a chat with someone about this, I have tried to reach out via email after applying for a US account but have not heard back. It would help not only ourselves but many of our clients, most certainly if we could become a reseller. 

If somebody could reach out to me that would be much appreciated., either on here or via our website > wecann

Thank you.

David.

[Breffni]

Hi @wecann, thanks for your comment. 

Square originated in the US and CBD sales can only be processed via Square within the US. 

As you mentioned, due to regulations within the UK with the card networks, we cannot process CBD sales in the UK. We are not privy to exactly what those regulations are, unfortunately. 

If you are based in the UK, then you cannot apply for a US account. 

As mentioned already on the thread, if this does change, we'll be sure to let you know. 

[londondispense]

Hello, 

Over 12 months have passed and with a number of processors accepting CBD businesses across Europe, VivaWallet being one which is now UK regulated since November also, the previous Square stance and statement regarding card networks and UK regulations no longer can hold. If there hasn't already been movement, maybe Square could start to question why VivaWallet will be carving out a monopoly under their noses in the UK with you and them being given different 'regulations' to work within. 

Can you update us on the status of Square and CBD sales process for the UK, please?

Thanks,

[Breffni]

Hi @londondispense 👋 thanks for sharing this information. 

Square has not made any updates regarding the acceptance of CBD transactions at this time and CBD sales are still not accepted in the UK.

If there are any changes or updates in the future, we'll make sure to share the information here in the Community.

I hope this helps, and thanks for checking in.