Michigan Dispensary Payment Guide — Cash, Debit & ATM Explained

The Short Answer

• Cash: Accepted everywhere. The safest bet.
• Debit card: Accepted at many (but not all) dispensaries via "cashless ATM" or "point-of-banking" systems.
• Credit card: Almost never accepted. Don't count on it.
• Apple Pay / Google Pay / Venmo: Not accepted at dispensaries.
• ATMs: Available at most dispensaries. Fees of $3-5 typical.

The bottom line: bring cash. It's the only payment method guaranteed to work at every single dispensary. If you forget, most shops have ATMs on-site — but you'll pay a fee.

Why Don't Dispensaries Take Credit Cards?

Cannabis is legal in Michigan but remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. Since credit card networks (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) operate across state lines and are regulated by federal banking laws, they prohibit transactions with cannabis businesses.

This isn't a dispensary choice — it's a banking regulation issue. Even dispensaries that WANT to accept credit cards cannot get payment processing from major card networks. This applies nationwide, not just Michigan.

Some dispensaries have experimented with workarounds (processing cannabis sales as general retail or using offshore payment processors), but these are risky for the business and can result in chargebacks or account closures. Most shops have abandoned credit card attempts entirely.

How Debit Cards Work at Dispensaries

Many dispensaries accept debit cards through systems called "cashless ATM" or "point-of-banking" (POB). Here's how these work:

Cashless ATM

The most common debit system. When you swipe your debit card, the transaction is processed as an ATM withdrawal rather than a point-of-sale purchase. Key details:

• Your purchase is rounded UP to the nearest $5 increment
• You receive the difference back as change (in cash)
• Example: Your total is $47. The ATM charges $50. You get $3 back in cash.
• It shows up on your bank statement as an "ATM withdrawal" — not as a cannabis purchase
• Your bank's ATM fee policy applies (some banks reimburse ATM fees)

Point-of-Banking (CanPay, Aeropay, etc.)

Some dispensaries use app-based payment systems like CanPay or Aeropay. You download the app, link your bank account, and pay directly from your checking account. These are ACH-based (bank-to-bank transfer) rather than card-based, which avoids the credit card network restrictions. The transaction shows up on your bank statement as a transfer to the dispensary or payment service.

Which New Buffalo Dispensaries Take Debit?

Most of the larger dispensaries in New Buffalo accept debit cards via cashless ATM. However, some shops are strictly cash-only. Notable examples:

• King of Budz: Cash and debit accepted
• Bloomery Cannabis: Cash and debit accepted
• Levels Cannabis: Cash and debit accepted
• Pure Cannabis Outlet: Cash and debit, plus their own mobile app
• Information Entropy: Cash only (ATM on-site)

Payment options can change, so check the dispensary's page on BudDash or call ahead if debit is essential for you.

ATMs at Dispensaries

Most dispensaries have at least one ATM in the lobby or waiting area. What to expect:

• Fees: $3-5 per withdrawal is typical. Some charge more.
• Withdrawal limits: Your bank's daily ATM withdrawal limit applies (often $300-500/day)
• Networks: Most are generic ATMs that accept any Visa/Mastercard debit card
• Wait times: On busy days, there may be a line for the ATM. Another reason to bring cash.

Pro tip: If you know you're going to multiple dispensaries, withdraw cash from your own bank's ATM (zero or low fee) before the trip. The dispensary ATMs are convenient but overpriced.

How Much Cash to Bring

Depends on what you're buying. Here are common spending ranges for a New Buffalo trip:

• Light shopper (a pre-roll and some gummies): $30-50 + tax
• Moderate shopper (a quarter or half ounce + edibles + a cart): $80-150 + tax
• Stocking up (ounce + edibles + carts + concentrates): $150-300+ + tax
• Budget ounce hunter (King of Budz $35 ounce): $35-50 + tax

Remember to add 16% for tax on all recreational purchases. A $100 pre-tax purchase becomes $116 at checkout. Bringing $20-30 more than your planned spend is smart buffer money.

Tips for Smooth Checkout

1. Bring cash (ideally small bills): $20s and $10s are easiest. Some shops may not have change for a $100 bill on a small purchase.
2. Know your total before you get to the register: Ask the budtender for a running total if you're shopping on a budget. Add 16% mentally.
3. If using debit, expect rounding: Cashless ATM rounds up to the nearest $5. You'll get change back.
4. Tip your budtender: Not required, but appreciated. $2-5 is standard. Cash tips are easiest since they can't add tips to the debit transaction at most shops.
5. Check your bank's ATM fee policy: Some banks (Ally, Schwab, many credit unions) reimburse ATM fees. If yours does, the dispensary ATM is effectively free.

Will Dispensaries Ever Take Credit Cards?

Maybe — eventually. The SAFE Banking Act (Secure and Fair Enforcement) has been proposed multiple times in Congress to allow banks and credit card companies to work with legal cannabis businesses. As of March 2026, it has not passed at the federal level, though versions continue to be introduced. If/when cannabis is federally legalized or the SAFE Banking Act passes, credit card acceptance at dispensaries would follow quickly.

Until then, cash and debit remain the only options. It's an inconvenience, but it's the same at every legal dispensary in America — not just Michigan.

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