Pivot to Powerhouse: BPS’ Rise in Cannabis Payments and Community

When Stuart Lutterman founded Brother Processing over 15 years ago, the world of payment processing was already crowded, competitive, and cutthroat; not to mention pretty boring. Most processors focused on high-volume, low-margin transactions — restaurants, e-commerce, and retail — and the sales pitch was always the same: “We can save you money on fees.” They didn’t really know their clients, their businesses, or what was best for them. It was more, “this account has X monthly sales volume”, who they are or what they did didn’t matter.

But Stuart was different. After 25 years in payment processing, he saw a new frontier emerging — one where compliance, courage, and connection mattered as much as cost. That frontier was cannabis.

Fork in the Road: From Mainstream Payments to a Cannabis Pivot

About six years ago, Stuart decided to pivot Brother Processing from traditional merchant services into the cannabis and hemp industry.

The inspiration came unexpectedly — from a chance conversation with Canopy Growth’s CEO at a trade show in Ottawa.

“He told me, if you can find a niche in cannabis, you’ll do very well,” Stuart recalls.

At the time, cannabis legalization in Canada was generating massive optimism. Stuart had personally invested in Canopy Growth stock and saw firsthand the wave of opportunity coming. That brief exchange was all the confirmation he needed to bet on the future. Taking what he knew about payment processing and diving into the cannabis community showed him there was a lot of room for improvement.

Building a New Industry: The Cannabis Payments Gap

Transitioning from general merchant processing to cannabis wasn’t simple. The industry’s financial infrastructure was (and still is) fragmented (especially in the United States, where state regulations vary drastically), with banking stigma, compliance gray zones, and Visa/MasterCard restrictions.

While most payment firms and banks avoided the space, Stuart saw a clear need for a legitimate, stable way for dispensaries to accept money — not through “workarounds,” but through compliant debit and ACH rails.

Thus began Brother Processing’s new mission:

“To create momentum for cannabis businesses to grow, thrive, and win — one transaction at a time.”

That is precisely what Stuart set out to do, and what he and the BPS team are doing today.

Growing Through Integrity: What Makes Brother Processing Different

In a market where operators were getting shut down by Square and Stripe, Brother Processing offered reliability and safety.

• No shutdowns. No fund holds. Every solution was built with cannabis compliance at its core, or it wouldn’t be implemented.
• Fast onboarding: Most dispensaries go live in 2–4 business days with debit terminals ready to process.
• Genuine relationships: Stuart answers client calls directly — no call centers, no middlemen. Need to reach him or a team member? You can.
• Compliant and flexible: Focused on debit, >ACH, and bank-to-bank options for retail and wholesale transactions, as well as Cashless ATM’s in the USA.

Over time, Brother Processing expanded to support both licensed and Indigenous dispensaries in Canada and across the United States.

Supporting Indigenous Communities

In Canada, Brother Processing carved a niche as one of the leading payment providers for Indigenous-owned dispensaries, which large players and financial institutions often overlook.

Indigenous operators face unique challenges — balancing sovereignty with compliance, often without access to traditional banking. Brother Processing recognized this and built solutions that allow them to accept debit payments securely, without depending on Visa or MasterCard.

The results speak for themselves:

“Eighty percent of our Indigenous dispensary clients grow month over month. They’re thriving because their systems actually work.” - Stuart L.

By working directly with Indigenous Cannabis companies, Stuart and Brother Processing are helping solidify and strengthen the cannabis circular economy.

Beyond Payments: Partnerships That Empower Operators

Stuart’s philosophy is simple: when clients succeed, Brother Processing succeeds. That’s why the company built partnerships beyond payments — an entire ecosystem of support for dispensaries and cultivators.

Partner services include:

• Funding solutions for dispensary owners who can’t access traditional bank loans.
• Cannabis consulting — free initial sessions with industry experts.
• Energy-bill optimization for growers (helping some cut monthly power costs by $20,000+).
• Payroll and marketing partners who specialize in cannabis business operations.

These collaborations reflect Brother Processing’s merchant-first mindset — helping cannabis businesses grow sustainably, not just transact.

Lessons from the Field: What Stuart Learned About Cannabis

Unlike many in fintech, Stuart isn’t just a payments professional — he’s a genuine cannabis advocate.

A longtime consumer and former grower, he understands the plant, its value, challenges, and community. That passion translates into authentic conversations with clients — not just about merchant accounts, but about quality, culture, and progress.

“Everyone in cannabis shares a passion,” he says. “You can’t fake it. That’s what makes this industry special.”

Overcoming Stigma and Pushing Education

Even in 2025, cannabis banking remains limited by stigma and lack of education — two things BPS actively works to combat.

Brother Processing recently donated to a nonprofit focused on cannabis education (EdduCanation), believing that awareness and normalization are key to reform. According to Stuart and many experts:

“Education removes stigma. Once people understand the plant and its economic benefits, progress follows.”

The Road Ahead: Preparing for Federal Reform

With U.S. federal legalization still looming, Brother Processing is positioned for the next phase. While some fear reform could invite a “race to the bottom” in payment fees, Stuart sees opportunity:

“We’ve built trust. When change comes, our clients will come to us first.”

BPS’s long-term strategy merges relationship capital, Cannabis compliance expertise, and real-world empathy — ensuring relevance no matter where regulations go next.

Contact and Presence

Brother Processing operates across Canada and the United States, serving both licensed dispensaries and Indigenous operations. See for yourself why so many Cannabis operators have come on board. See how BPS has become a leader in Cannabis Payment Processing today.

📞 USA & Canada: 1-800-891-8965