Kratom Payment Processing: Credit Denied

-Why kratom vendors have difficulty using traditional payment processing methods

Many kratom websites have difficulty processing credit and debit card payments, leading to a less-than-ideal purchasing process for kratom users. Some of the methods I’ve seen — and had to use instead of purchasing kratom via credit card processing — include Cash on Delivery (COD, with a money order or cashier’s check), the use of various payment apps, or by purchasing bitcoin. You may get an email from your favorite kratom vendor alerting you that credit cards are up online, only for it to be unavailable in a few weeks. Why is it so difficult to buy kratom with a credit card?

We can look to the recent surge in popularity of CBD as an informative analog for kratom payment processing. CBD is a non-psychoactive derivative of cannabis that is legal on both a federal and state level, which would lead one to assume that it would be subject to little persecution. Its value has become apparent as medical marijuana has spread across the states and research begins to explore the benefits of cannabis. 

Not Just Kratom

You’re probably beginning to see a trend. Despite the legality of these products, even a whiff of controversy worries financial institutions. CBD, for example, is relentlessly punished simply because it can exist in marijuana although it doesn’t produce a high, and in fact, often blunts it (pun intended?). Most market CBD is extracted from hemp, which is both legal and essentially impossible to get ‘high’ from. 

In 2016, the FDA considered including kratom on the same list that hosts prohibited substances such as meth and cocaine. Credit card carriers and banks don’t like to take risks — tied in and dependent as they are to federal and state bodies — and a community under attack can be seen as a risky investment. Thus, credit card carriers who could provide kratom credit card processing are leery of allowing kratom to be purchased using their service, leaving those who wish to buy kratom with credit card options unable to do so. 

The appearance of risk that surrounds kratom is enough to make these financial institutions nervous. While they recognize the legality of kratom, a number of larger financiers don’t want to run afoul of federal bodies. Because of the FDA’s stance, the credit carriers worry a ban could leave transactions retroactively subject to scrutiny, or create trouble for services who won’t see the postdated payment made until after the ban was put into place. 

Additionally, the states which do have bans create a complication that the financial services don’t want to deal with. In one state it may be legal, a national credit carrier doesn’t want an out of state purchaser to then bring the product into a state where kratom is banned and therefore blocks the ability to buy kratom with credit cards entirely. 

Credit Check

While some carriers and banks will now allow the purchase of kratom, others remain wary as the FDA continues to highlight the product. Thus, many kratom vendors are forced to use alternative means to sell kratom, despite being legal on a federal level. 

As scientific study continues to explore kratom, and transparency is deployed by kratom vendors, the financial and legal community is beginning to see the potential of the plant.

To the kratom community, I say this; try and be patient. Kratom is not the first herbal product to be under fire from a government body. It may be frustrating, but kratom is worth the wait. Good vendors will offer a variety of payment methods to try and simplify your shopping experience, even if the option to buy kratom with credit card isn’t there. I’ve personally used a number of payment apps that are simple and safe. 

A responsible vendor will be open to your suggestions if some of the methods presented don’t work for you. Kratom credit card processing and payment processing as a whole will improve over time. And the good news is that TKC does accept credit card payments, so you can get premium kratom without any added inconvenience!