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Letter from the editors

n a matter of weeks, the holidays will be behind
us. Decorations will be boxed up, presents will
be put away or returned, thank-you cards or
I emails written, diets begun, and new ventures
embarked upon. One vertical a number of enterpris-
ing payment professionals have taken on with gusto
for the coming year is legal cannabis sales. Medicinal
marijuana sales have been legal in a number of states
for several years, and a small group of states have
now deemed recreational cannabis product sales legal,
including California, where such sales will be allowed OF A RESOURCE
as soon as the ball drops in New York's Times Square.

However the fact that the federal government continues GUIDE RGXL AD
to categorize cannabis as a Schedule 1 narcotic on par
with heroin presents significant legal and logistical
challenges, with federal banking regulations being Viewable: In Print, Online,
high on the list. That said, entrepreneurs are finding
work-arounds, and some envision not just sorting out and Front Page Option
the payments piece of the puzzle, but also providing
a suite of services tailored to the vertical. This issue's
lead article delves into the challenges and solutions at
this juncture in the evolving cannabis sales sector.

Given the ongoing disruption in payments, adapting to
change will continue to be critical in 2018, and articles
from contributing writers come through on that score,
as well as on such topics as merchants' interest in
cash discount programs, the Senate's rollback of the
CFPB's anti-arbitration rule, reducing your merchant
portfolio's MATCH list risk, the continued fallout from
the Equifax data breach, and combating fraud during
the holidays.

Along with product and company profiles, we've also • Ability to purchase on a quarterly basis.
included briefs on a number of news stories posted Great for short term contract/test runs
at www.greensheet.com in recent weeks, as well as of new products or services.
updates on company and individual professional
milestones, new partnerships, appointments, research, • Great way to close out your yearly
acquisitions and more. advertising accounts and start fresh
for the new year.
As we put this issue to bed and begin work on our
final issue of 2017, we want to thank all of our loyal • We have quarterly payments
readers, contributing writers and advertisers who schedules available.
continue to support our mission to educate and
empower the payments industry's feet on the street. • Discounts are given for long term
The resilience of ISOs, merchant level salespeople and contracts & multiple listings.
other essential payment professionals is exceptional,
and we are thrilled to have been fostering success in
this sphere since 1983. Call today for more details

We hope you thrive this holiday season and beyond. Danielle Thorpe
And we look forward to continuing to receive your
news at press@greensheet.com, as well as feedback at AVP Media Partnerships
greensheet@greensheet.com. .
707-284-1686

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