Payments
Cannabis payment processing for licensed dispensaries.
Payment options for the way your dispensary sells — at the counter, online and on delivery. Understand the transaction flow, customer fees, funding and eligibility before you commit. Licensed cannabis businesses, nationwide.
Solutions
Every way your customers want to pay.
Most dispensaries use more than one. We’ll help you choose the mix that fits how you sell.
Compare
Which payment options fit your store?
How the customer pays, and where you can take each option.
| Payment method | Where you can take it | What the customer does | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debit card | Counter, curbside, delivery; online and phone pre-orders | Pays with their bank debit card | The most widely used card option in cannabis retail |
| Credit card | Counter, curbside, delivery | Pays with a credit card | Works differently from ordinary credit processing — we explain the structure, statement descriptor and any customer fee in writing |
| Cash via in-store ATM | Inside your store | Withdraws cash with a bank card and pays a convenience fee shown on screen | No cost to the dispensary; Sprout loads and services the machine |
How it works
From tap to deposit.
The shape of every card payment we set up. The specifics for your program — who processes it, what the customer’s statement shows, settlement timing and every fee — come in writing before you commit.
- 01
Customer pays
At the counter, at the curb, on delivery or ahead of time online or by phone.
- 02
The sale is recorded
Each transaction appears in your reporting, so the day reconciles in minutes.
- 03
Funds settle to your account
Settlement timing, statement descriptor and every fee are set out in your written proposal before you sign.
What your written proposal covers
- How transactions are processed and who you contract with
- What appears on your customers’ statements
- Where funds settle, and typical timing
- Every rate and fee — including any fee shown to customers
- Refunds, disputes and chargebacks
- Eligibility, limitations and the rules that apply in your state
- Equipment and how it works with your point-of-sale
Why it’s different in cannabis
The provider matters more than the rate.
Cannabis is still federally controlled — even after April 2026 moved state-licensed medical marijuana to Schedule III, adult-use cannabis remains in Schedule I pending a separate review — and banks and card networks set their own rules for cannabis transactions. That has created a market full of workarounds — “cashless ATMs,” miscoded transactions, processors that don’t ask what you sell — that work until the day they don’t. When they stop, dispensaries lose card payments overnight, and sometimes the money in transit with them.
Sprout was started to be the opposite of that. Before you sign, we explain how your transactions are processed, what customers will see on their statements, what everything costs and what rules apply in your state — in writing. Then we pick up the phone when you need us.
Running several stores? See payments for multi-location dispensary groups. Curious what your customers hear at the counter? Read do dispensaries take credit cards? and what is a cashless ATM?
Questions
About cannabis payments.
What is cannabis payment processing?
It’s the set of services that let a licensed cannabis business take payment by something other than cash: debit cards, credit card acceptance through a structured program, and online and pre-order payments. Many stores add an in-store ATM for customers who prefer cash.
Why can’t dispensaries use a regular payment processor?
Cannabis is still federally controlled, and most mainstream processors and card networks don’t allow cannabis sales to be processed as ordinary card purchases. A processor that doesn’t ask what you sell can close your account without warning. That’s why the structure behind a cannabis payment program matters, and why we explain ours in writing before you sign.
How much does cannabis payment processing cost?
It depends on your volume, how you sell and which services you use, so be wary of anyone quoting one flat rate for every store. With Sprout, every rate and fee is in writing before you sign, including any fee shown to customers, so you can compare fairly.
What payment methods can a dispensary accept?
Most licensed dispensaries take cash and debit cards, and many offer an on-site ATM. Some also offer credit card acceptance and online pre-payment for pickup and delivery. What’s available depends on your state’s rules and your provider. The comparison table on this page shows where each option works.
How do I choose a cannabis payment processor?
Ask how each transaction is processed, what customers see on their statement, every fee in writing, how funds settle and what happens if the program changes. Our guide, how to choose a cannabis payment processor, has the full checklist.
Get started
Give customers more ways to pay.
Tell us how your dispensary sells today. We’ll explain what would work for you — cards, online payments, an ATM or all three — with every cost in writing and no obligation.
Or call (844) 227-8521