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CBD and Hemp Payments After a Processor Exit
Peer Pay gives approved hemp brands a direct checkout rail that does not depend on a merchant account or processor-held reserve.
Restricted categories require prior written approval from Peer. Production access is subject to merchant, product, and jurisdiction review.
A lawful catalog can still lose its processor
CBD and hemp policies can change faster than a brand can replace its checkout. A specialist account may remain available, but often with higher pricing, reserves, and product-level review.
Peer Pay can run as a second rail or continuity path: customers approve payment in an app they already use, proof verifies the transfer, and settlement goes to the merchant wallet.
What changes with Peer Pay
Peer Pay is checkout software, not a payment processor or merchant account. The customer starts a payment from a supported app, a cryptographic proof verifies the transfer, and USDC settles to a self-custodial wallet controlled by the brand. Peer does not hold the merchant's funds, so this flow has no processor balance, rolling reserve, or payout schedule.
That different settlement path does not change the underlying sale. The merchant still owns product eligibility, licensing, customer checks, fulfillment, refunds, taxes, disclosures, and every rule that applies in the places it serves.
How the payment works
- Create the order. Use a hosted payment link, ecommerce integration, embedded checkout, or Scan to Pay at the counter.
- The customer chooses a supported app. They review the recipient and amount, then approve the payment on their own device.
- Wait for proof. Peer verifies the transfer before the order is marked paid. A screenshot is not payment confirmation.
- Reconcile settlement. USDC reaches the wallet controlled by the brand, and the dashboard keeps the payment tied to the order.
When the fit is strongest
- You want a second payment rail that does not create a processor-held balance.
- Your customers already use supported payment apps and can approve each purchase themselves.
- You can receive USDC in a self-custodial wallet and reconcile it into your own operations.
- Your catalog is lawful where sold and you can document ingredients, labeling, and test results during review.
Before you launch
- Peer Pay does not make a restricted cannabinoid or unlawful claim permissible.
- Keep product testing, labeling, age gates, shipping rules, and state-by-state catalog controls current.
- CBD and hemp are restricted categories and require prior written approval from Peer.
FAQ
Does Peer Pay accept every hemp-derived product?
No. Availability depends on the product, jurisdiction, claims, and Peer's review. Only lawful products approved for the merchant may be sold.
Should Peer Pay replace a working specialist account?
It can be used as a second rail. Compare the total cost, reserve exposure, and continuity value for your own volume before moving traffic.