Dispensaries become food trucks to accept credit cards

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Sometimes you have to think outside the box to succeed

As the cash-only marijuana industry continues to struggle, businesses are finding innovative ways to accept plastic. In Nevada, some cannabis dispensaries have been converted into food trucks – on paper, at least – in order to help their customers who would rather pay with credit or debit cards than with cash. Not only is it making the operations safer, but it is giving better flexibility to the consumers.

The Blüm marijuana dispensary is a food truck dispensary. It says so on the receipt. Walk into the physical (non-mobile) store, pay with plastic and walk away with a receipt that says you made a purchase at “Midgrun East LLC food truck.”

Described as somewhat of a “back door” into the credit card-accepting world, others describe it differently. Jeremy Skaff, a financial advisor for Journey Business Solutions, explains, “It’s not even back door, it’s more like an upper window. I’m not a statistician, so I don’t know that customers will spend more if they have a credit card. But a business that takes credit cards, it’s more convenient for customers. The more options that you give people to pay, the more business you’re going to get. No one carries cash anymore.”

All six of the Blüm locations accept credit cards because they’re “food trucks.” It seems that these are the only ones in Nevada to think outside the box so far, but others may decide to follow suit if federal regulations don’t change soon.

Of course, the practice isn’t without its risks. The companies could be subject to federal inquiries and even fines. Loss of a license is most likely not an option, though, at least in Nevada. According to the state’s Department of Taxation, no rules specifically prevent a cannabis business from accepting credit cards.