Canada Becomes Second Country to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Medical Marijuana Payment ProcessingCanada has just become the second country to permit widespread sales and use of cannabis. Legislation approved early this month pushed the country one step closer to making it a reality. Just days ago, on June 19, Canadian lawmakers announced that they had approved landmark legislation to fully legalize marijuana.

In a session that lasted six hours on June 7, the Senate voted 56 to 30 – with just one abstention – in favor of a version of the bill that includes several dozen amendments. One of those amendments would be laying down stricter rules for advertising for cannabis businesses. The new law, which is being called a ‘historic’ piece of legislation, will come into effect on October 17 this year.

In approving the bill, Canadian senators acknowledge that the country will face many new obstacles. For example, the nation will face international scrutiny. Specifically, over whether this new law puts Canada in violation of U.N. anti-drug treaties. The Canadian government will also have to inform its citizens that admitting to marijuana use could create problems when crossing the U.S. border (or prevent them from entering altogether). According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule 1 drug with “no currently accepted use and a high potential for abuse.”

If all goes as expected, the Canadian government plans to launch legal sales in just a couple of months. In comparison, the approach and acceptance of legalization in the U.S. is very different from the experience thus far in Canada.

In the U.S., just 9 states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis. As mentioned, cannabis is still very much illegal at the federal level. Marijuana merchants find themselves caught between the state and the federal government. Trying to operate smoothly and accept any payment besides cash is a real challenge for U.S. merchants, since banks shy away from the industry for fear of federal prosecution.

Medical marijuana in Canada, on the other hand, has been legal since 2001. In addition, recent estimates have set recreational marijuana sales in Canada as high as $3.3 billion by 2027; this is mainly due to the fact that businesses in Canada will be able to work nationally, unlike the cannabis firms in the U.S.

While there has been hints of change coming in the U.S., thanks to new legislation moving through Congress thanks to Sen. Gardner and Sen. Warren, marijuana businesses are still struggling to find the business solutions they need. Without a secure merchant account, they are unable to accept anything but cash from their customers, impractical not to mention completely unsafe.

To provide a solution to this every-growing problem, Marijuana Merchant Account offers wide variety of merchant services, including: payment processing solutions, ECheck services, business funding options and more. If your cannabis firm needs safe and convenient payment processing, contact the experts at MMA for more information on how to get started.

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Canada’s Quest to Legalize Pot

canadaCanada has a country-wide medical marijuana legalization task force, and while it may be successful, many wonder what is next. The expectation is that legalized recreational marijuana may happen as soon as 2017 – but will this make a big difference? Opinions are mixed, but many in Canada are wanting legalized recreational marijuana.

The Canadian Institute hosted a few weeks ago a forum on the legalization of recreational pot. It helped curb the minds of some – but not all. So, what is a country to do is something as big as legalized pot is turning people off? Well, nothing. We all have issues with our own perspective governments, but yet we do not flee the country. But like most every other country, Canada has its liberal areas and its conservative areas. While Vancouver is fairly permissive with pretty visible marijuana store front dispensaries, other areas of the country are more conservative. For example, some attendees noted that conservative communities like Saskatchewan are not at permissive as Vancouver and just this past year during May in Toronto police launched Project Claudia that raided many dispensaries and seized 269 kilos of dried cannabis and arrested 90 people.

If it is legalized country-wide, then of course police and local governments will have to cooperate. Will the want to? Maybe not – but if it is the law, then people shouldn’t worry.

This can also add to the workforce in Canada. Marijuana dispensaries can grow – and it not only produces employees but also a larger tax for the country. Many believe that legalized recreational pot will be taxed like cigarettes and alcohol, which can bring in a nice chunk of change for the territories, cities, and country. The employee paychecks help fuel funds back into the local economies.

The big problem could be for those who want to open a dispensary, thanks to a small amount of merchant account providers who work with these companies. All merchants need to make sure that their merchant account provider is out for their company’s success – and not just for their own well-being.

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Canada’s Medical Marijuana Money Growth

 

Marijuana Leaf with the colors of Canadian flag isolated on white

Marijuana Leaf with the colors of Canadian flag isolated on white

Canada is in the midst of a $3 million dollar medical marijuana financing boom. While medical marijuana patients are not as numerous as the country has hoped, this boom in financing can help get the word out – and get better supply. This mass of cash is something that may not happen in the USA, thanks to marijuana being a villain of the Feds, but it does show that it can bring a lot of funds in to the local and Federal economies. While raising funds and capitol for medical marijuana may be easy in Canada, finding someone to process the customer’s payments is not.

Oddly enough, while merchants are struggling to find a marijuana payment solution for their business, OrganiGram has somehow obtained a $5 million dollar line of credit [http://mjbizdaily.com/canadian-mmj-producer-closes-3m-funding-round/]. While these funds will go to building and operating more grow houses for more supply, the supply will not matter is merchants cannot process their payments. This leaves many turning to either a “cash only” business, which is dangerous, or turning to a subpar processor. There are few processors who are experienced with the industry, and have the willingness to deal with the government when things get tough. Because of this, when an issue arises, processors will either hike up processing rates or all together drop the merchant.

What is curious about OrganiGram is not that they obtained the loan, but that they obtained the loan with few patients for the country’s medical marijuana program. Unlike the USA where people are trying to fake illnesses for a medical marijuana card, Canadians are not as into the program. Perhaps they are wary of it, or perhaps they just do not need or want it. This loan may be what the industry needs, and if it gets people talking about the Canadian medical marijuana industry, that’s great.

Medical marijuana merchants in the USA and Canada need to be careful when obtaining marijuana payment solutions. While OrganiGram somehow ended up with a $5 million dollar loan, this is highly unlikely for any other grower or dispensary. Be sure to go over all of your options before signing with a processor, as the wrong choice can hurt your business – and even your personal finances.

Marijuana payment Solutions today!

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