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PayPal vs UK CBD

Since PayPal launched in 1999 it has become one of the most popular money transfer platforms in the world for all manner of products. So why doesn’t our cannabis oil and supplement site feature the option to pay via PayPal?

Like many other UK CBD businesses, we want to offer the easiest payment methods for our customers. However, PayPal policies mean that when you buy CBD products in the UK, it is not possible to use PayPal as a platform. PayPal, due to American law, class all CBD cannabidiol products as a narcotic, which means that the platform does not accept the transactions of any hemp derived products.

The stance that PayPal has taken is very similar to the stance that it has with any transactions that include cannabis plants. This may come as a surprise; as anyone who uses our CBD products will know already, CBD oils or products are very different to cannabis plants and are completely legal!

Throughout the UK CBD industry, and worldwide, there have been reports of PayPal effectively freezing the funds and accounts of those who are found to be selling perfectly legal CBD products in the UK. This includes CBD oils, CBD vape liquids, CBD capsules, essentially anything that contains CBD in any form. There is no way to appeal this decision, with PayPal closing the accounts of those affected and in certain cases completely freezing business funds for a 180-day period.

So, what does this mean for UK CBD retailers?

This has left numerous businesses unable to access the vital funds that they need to continue operating their business. In some of the worst cases, due to the lack of cash flow, some businesses have been forced to close. The risk of this is too high to accept PayPal as a payment processor and, instead, sellers must find alternative methods.

What does this mean for Hempura, and CBD UK products sold through the site?

We have been able to form an excellent partnership with a world leading payment provider that accept CBD transactions. While we can no longer accept any PayPal payments, you don’t need to worry about accessing the best CBD has to offer and making secure payment via our store.

Our new service is easy to use and is fully certified with the PCI Security Standards Council. The platform is already processing upwards of 2 million different transactions each and every month, with complete freedom on the platform for the use of debit and credit cards. The platform is fully secure and encrypted, so just like with PayPal, your information is safe.

Is this the end for CBD products purchased online? Not even slightly! We will continuously monitor which payment options are available to businesses like our’s and use the most convenient. If, one day, PayPal change their terms and conditions, we will certainly be one of the first to re-offer PayPal as a payment option.