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Insights and Expertise

StreetSmarts SM

Unfinished Business:

The hemp ban and card brand settlement

By Allen Kopelman Hemp and CBD
Nationwide Payment Systems Inc. Congress and the hemp lobby have a year to figure out new
rules and regulations regarding hemp and CBD products.
ayment professionals won't have to wait for These products are sold everywhere, from mom-and-pop
the ball to drop on Times Square this year, stores to national chains. You can find them online and
because two big bombs have already dropped at gas stations, convenience stores, smoke shops, grocery
P on our industry. Yesterday, I got another call stores, and vitamin shops.
from a merchant wanting to know when they'll see their
savings from the Visa-Mastercard settlement and another I hope that cooler heads will prevail and that ISOs will
call from a hemp-based business owner asking if they're wait to see what happens and not overreact. It would be
going to get shut down. great if Congress could establish rules and standards for
these products and greenlight software that could verify
These issues are receiving a lot of press and have not even test results and compliance.
been finalized. As we wait to see how these issues play
out, here are a few things to keep in mind. The biggest issue with the HEMP ban is not only the
manufacturing side of things but the massive population

Estimated U.S. retail locations selling hemp/CBD – 2025

Retail Category Total U.S. Location Estimated % Approx.
Carrying Hemp/ Locations

CBD Selling Hemp/
CBD
Convenience Stores 152,255 (NACS 40-60% 61,000-91,000
& Gas Stations 2025)

Smoke/Vape Shops ~30,000-35,500 80-90% 24,000-31,000

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