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Education

Cannabis dispensary customers out of their brick-and-mor-
tar establishments by encouraging
support amid COVID-19 online ordering for delivery or curb-
side pickup. And state governments,
which tightly regulate cannabis busi-
and beyond nesses (medical as well as recreation-
al sales), are loosening rules during
this time of crisis to facilitate these
By Max Miller new order and delivery models.
Paybotic The whys and how

ith social distancing and stay-at-home requirements, online Cannabis. Marijuana. Pot. Weed. Like
ordering, for pickup or delivery, is becoming a way of life for the name, cannabis has many uses.
millions of Americans, particularly those legally purchasing Some people smoke it, while others
W cannabis products to treat health issues. Payments profession- prefer edibles, and still others may
als who can deliver ecommerce and electronic payment solutions to cannabis use it in topical form. It can be pre-
dispensaries, in compliance with appropriate regulations, will position them- scribed for assorted medical condi-
selves to benefit long term from this burgeoning market. tions and symptoms, including: ALS,
anxiety, Crone's disease, depression,
Need to limit traffic epilepsy, MS, chronic nausea and
With medical experts advising that the best way to staunch the spread of CO- PTSD.
VID-19 is to avoid contact with infected individuals, keeping store traffic to a
minimum is a good merchant practice. Most cannabis dispensaries in the Unit- Many cannabis dispensaries today
ed States today are medical cannabis dispensaries, and these are considered operate on a cash-only basis, because
"essential" businesses exempt from state closure mandates. They're keeping banks and payments companies, con-
cerned about raising red flags with
regulators or the credit card net-
works, have turned their backs on
these companies. But it doesn't have
to be that way, and it shouldn't be.
REIMAGINE THE ART OF USAEPAY.COM Businesses and individuals through-

TRANSACTION out the world are shunning cash over
concerns that paper bills, because
MOBILEOBILE
M
RETAIL
E-COMMERCE
they get handled by thousands, if
not millions, of individuals could
be a vector for COVID-19. Cannabis
dispensaries and their patients/cus-
tomers are no different. In fact, an
argument can be made that these in-
dividuals, with underlying medical
conditions that could render infec-
tion fatal, have an even greater need
for cashless payment solutions.
Adaptability saves the day

Cannabis dispensaries are an adapt-
able lot. Faced with draconian restric-
tions on how and where they can op-
erate, they continue to flourish, with
a steady stream of new dispensaries
opening every year. Faced with the
dangers around COVID-19, dispen-
saries have an opportunity to prove
their worth – and provide a model
for other customer-facing business-
es. Even in the best of times, not ev-
eryone who uses medical marijuana
can stop by a local dispensary when
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