Square and Jane Launch Commerce Solution for Canadian Cannabis Retailers

Square has partnered with Jane Technologies, an online ordering platform service for cannabis dispensaries, to enter the cannabis market in Canada.

This collaboration seeks to cater to the needs of cannabis retailers in Canada by providing them with a comprehensive and efficient commerce solution, the companies said in a Wednesday (Sept. 20) press release emailed to PYMNTS.

One of the benefits of this partnership is that cannabis dispensaries using Square will now be able to supplement their brick-and-mortar businesses with an online store, according to the release. Customers will have the convenience of selecting items from an up-to-date menu and placing orders for pick-up or delivery.

Roshan Jhunja, head of retail at Square, said the company wants to solve sellers’ pain points and provide cannabis dispensaries with reliable, integrated, omnichannel commerce tools.

“We’ve been fortunate to partner with Jane to develop a robust online offering and encourage cannabis dispensaries to test our software, hardware and payment solution in person through our Early Access Program,” Jhunia said in the release.

Square’s Early Access Program is now allowing authorized cannabis sellers in Ontario to test Square’s point-of-sale (POS) solution, called Square for Retail, in their stores, per the release.

Jane Technologies CEO Socrates Rosenfeld said in the release, “We are thrilled to integrate the robust infrastructure of Square’s point-of-sale and APIs with the powerful Jane eCommerce platform to unlock a best-in-class omnichannel experience for Canadian cannabis retailers.”

Jane Technologies powers over 2,500 dispensaries and brands across Canada and 39 U.S. state markets, according to the press release.

The recreational cannabis market became legal throughout Canada in 2018, the release said. It is estimated to be worth more than $4.5 billion and is projected to have an annual growth rate of over 18% through 2024.

This news in Canada comes at a time when health officials in the United States have recommended easing restrictions on cannabis. This recommendation could open the door to more cohesive payments systems in the cannabis sector.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has written to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), urging it to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III drug, allowing it to be obtained legally with a prescription, Bloomberg News reported Aug. 30.