Do Dispensaries Accept Credit Cards?
Wondering if you can use a credit card at our Orange County dispensary? While the answer is no, we do have good news. High Seas now accepts Apple Pay and Google Pay. While we don’t accept traditional credit cards in store, you can use your mobile device connected to your debit card to complete your transaction. It’s a no cash, no problem situation.
Before this transition, High Seas accepted only cash and debit cards. But we know a lot of our wonderful Costa Mesa dispensary customers prefer to pay without bringing their debit card with them. Instead of having to carry a debit card or cash, you can now use your phone’s connected card to stock up on your favorite weed products.
How to buy cannabis with your credit card using Apple Pay or Google Pay
If you’re looking to use your phone to pay at our dispensary, you’ll need to make sure you set up Apple Pay or Google Pay. Here’s how to do both:
How to set up Apple Pay for dispensary purchases
Setting up Apple Pay is easy. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone. In the upper-right corner, click on the plus (+) sign. Select “debit card” and either scan your card or manually enter all of the details.
You’ll be prompted to follow your bank’s verification instructions.
How to set up Google Pay for dispensary purchases
To set up Google Pay, download the Google Wallet App from the Google Play Store. Open the app and sign in with your Google account. You might be prompted to set up a lock screen, either a pin or password, for security.
Next, you’ll need to add a payment card. Tap “Add to Wallet” at the bottom of the screen, select payment card, and then select the option to add a new card. You can scan your card using the phone camera or manually enter your information.
Why dispensaries accept Apple Pay and Google Pay, but not credit cards
It seems a bit silly that you can pay for your cannabis with your credit card only if it’s attached to your phone wallet. But there’s actually a reason behind this.
Cannabis is still considered a Schedule 1 controlled substance under the federal government’s Controlled Substances Act. And this status makes it a major liability for banks and large credit card companies. So yes, even though adult-use cannabis is legal in California and many other states, it’s still illegal on a federal level. That’s what banks care most about.
Now if you’re a bit confused, you’re not alone. Cannabis laws in the United States are not cohesive. Earlier this year, the president issued an executive order to reclassify medical marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 3 controlled substance, significantly reducing many restrictions. But that executive order did not apply to adult-use cannabis, like the products we sell at our Costa Mesa dispensary.
Therefore, most banks and credit card companies don’t want to handle sales from adult-use cannabis.
But as we’ve heard from many of our Orange County dispensary visitors, carrying a debit card around isn’t always convenient. But everyone tends to have their phone on them, making Apple Pay or Google Pay a convenient solution for cannabis purchases.
Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay for cannabis delivery in Orange County?
Yes, you can use Apple Pay or Google Pay when ordering OC cannabis delivery. Just choose your preferred method of payment upon check out, and we’ll take care of the rest.
You can even use Google Pay or Apple Pay to order weed delivery to your hotel. Just select delivery instead of pick up when ordering online.
How federal cannabis laws impact dispensaries
As we’ve mentioned, dispensaries can’t accept credit cards because of federal cannabis laws. Cash, debit cards, and now debit cards attached to Apple Pay or Google Pay are the way to shop at our Costa Mesa cannabis store.
If you’re curious about how other federal cannabis laws impact all dispensaries, read on:
No standard banking
Most dispensaries can’t open traditional checking accounts. Banks are often unwilling to deal with the potential risk of working with a business selling substances that are technically illegal on a federal level.
No standard tax write offs
Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code prohibits tax write offs from businesses who sell Schedule 1 substances. Even though adult-use cannabis is legal on a state level, it’s not possible to write off most operations when federal tax time comes around.
No interstate commerce
No products can cross state lines. While our boutique cannabis dispensary is owned and operated solely here in California, there are many dispensary chains that operate in multiple states. These businesses can’t transport their products from one state to another, even if both states have legal adult-use cannabis. Because it’s illegal on a federal level, products can never cross state lines.
Shop with us at High Seas
Whether you’re ordering weed delivery in Orange County or planning to come in, we’re happy to offer new convenient payment options. Browse through our large menu of vapes, concentrates, flower, pre-rolls, topicals, edibles, and more.
High Seas is an Orange County boutique cannabis store located at 1921 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa
