If your business sells HHC products—whether that's carts, flower, gummies, disposables, or tinctures—you already know that credit card payment processing isn’t as simple as signing up with Stripe or Square. Selling HHC is legal under federal hemp laws, but credit card processors treat it like a legal landmine. That’s where we come in and we make it easy to apply online here.
We help smoke shops, online sellers, CBD retailers, and hemp distributors get approved for high-risk merchant accounts tailored for cannabinoids like HHC, Delta-8, Delta-10, THC-O, THCA, and THCP. We know how to navigate the legal gray areas, compliance requirements, and bank underwriter questions so you don’t have to.
Let’s walk through what makes HHC unique, why most processors won’t touch it, and how we get you approved for payment solutions that let your business grow—without fear of getting shut down.
HHC stands for Hexahydrocannabinol, a hydrogenated derivative of THC. It’s made by modifying the structure of delta-9 THC to add hydrogen atoms—similar to how vegetable oil becomes margarine. The result is a stable, shelf-ready cannabinoid that offers mild psychoactive effects without the regulatory baggage of marijuana.
Many users report that HHC produces a similar effect to THC, but slightly less intense and often more clear-headed. It’s especially popular in:
Disposable vapes and cartridges
HHC-infused gummies and soft chews
Tinctures and oils
Pre-rolls and hemp flower blends
Because it’s made from hemp-derived cannabinoids and contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, HHC is considered federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. But it still poses serious challenges when it comes to card acceptance.
Even though HHC is technically legal, most payment processors don’t want to support it. That’s because HHC is grouped with other psychoactive hemp compounds—like THC-O, Delta-10, and THCP—that are viewed as unpredictable or controversial by banks and regulators.
Here’s why HHC sellers are flagged as high-risk:
HHC is semi-synthetic and not naturally abundant in hemp, raising regulatory concerns
It produces a psychoactive effect, which makes underwriters nervous about misuse, age-restricted sales, and legal liability
There’s no FDA approval or formal regulation of HHC in food, vape, or ingestible form
Chargebacks can be higher due to product confusion, delivery delays, or customer expectations
It’s often sold alongside other banned or restricted cannabinoids, making it guilt by association
The result? Stripe, Square, Shopify Payments, PayPal, and most major processors won’t allow you to sell HHC—even if your products are completely compliant and tested.
We provide merchant account services to businesses of all sizes and structures that sell HHC and other cannabinoids, including:
Smoke shops and head shops with retail storefronts
Ecommerce stores using WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, or custom carts
CBD and hemp dispensaries
White-label and private-label HHC ands
Wholesalers and manufacturers selling B2B
Whether you process $5,000 a month or $500,000, we’ll help you find the right high-risk processor, payment gateway, and settlement schedule to fit your business model.
We’ve built strong partnerships with banks and processors that specifically underwrite hemp-derived cannabinoid sales. We know exactly which underwriters are currently approving HHC applications, what documentation they need, and how to structure your account for long-term success.
When you work with us, you get:
A high-risk merchant account that supports HHC product sales
Domestic U.S. processing with fast funding options
No unnecessary reserves or rolling fund holds (unless required by volume or history)
Transparent pricing with no hidden surcharges
POS and ecommerce compatibility (retail and online)
Direct support to help you stay compliant and minimize chargebacks
We also take the time to review your website, shipping policies, and product labeling to ensure you're prepared for underwriting before your application is even submitted.
If you’re a smoke shop or CBD store, we’ll provide a countertop or smart terminal that works right out of the box with your existing setup. That includes top POS systems like:
Clover
PAX
Dejavoo
For online sellers, we support leading gateways including:
NMI (ideal for HHC and multi-cannabinoid product lines)
Authorize.net (when paired with a high-risk backend processor)
USAePay (for subscription boxes and recurring billing)
We can help you integrate payment processing with WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, and even Shopify (using a third-party gateway).
Getting approved for HHC payment processing isn’t hard when you work with the right team. Here’s what we’ll need to get started:
Business formation documents (LLC, articles of incorporation, etc.)
Valid photo ID
EIN and business bank account info
A voided check or bank letter
Product lab results (COAs) proving hemp compliance
A functioning website with:
Age verification (must be 21+)
Privacy policy
Refund policy
Terms and conditions
We’ll walk you through each step and flag anything on your site that needs to be cleaned up before submission. Our goal is to make sure you’re fully ready before an underwriter ever sees your application.
HHC merchant accounts are considered high-risk, which means the rates are slightly higher than traditional retail—but that doesn’t mean they should be outrageous. We help you keep your processing fees and chargeback exposure to a minimum by offering:
Flat-rate or interchange-plus pricing models (no tiered junk)
Automated chargeback alerts and resolution tools
Best practices for labeling, compliance, and shipping disclosures
Gateway fraud filters to prevent risky transactions before they happen
Most of our HHC clients pay between 3.95% and 5.5%, depending on volume, history, and business model. Once your account has been running cleanly for a few months, you may qualify for better terms or lower reserves.
What sets us apart is that we understand this industry from the inside. We’re not new to this space—and we don’t panic when cannabinoids make headlines.
We know how to handle HHC, just like we handle Delta-8, THCA, THC-O, THCV, and others. We’ve built a system that adapts to changing regulations and helps your business stay ahead of the curve.
If regulators restrict one cannabinoid, we help you pivot. If your processor stops allowing a certain SKU, we guide you on compliant restructuring. And if your sales volume grows faster than expected, we help you scale without eaking your gateway or settlement limits.
If you’re ready to stop worrying about shut-downs, surprise denials, and inconsistent service, we’re here to help. We make it easy to get set up with payment processing that works for HHC and other hemp-derived cannabinoids—without delays or gray-area solutions.
Upload two months of your current statements or get in touch directly. We’ll review your business, walk you through the process, and get you approved fast.
You deserve merchant services that understand your industry—and we’re here to deliver.
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