The Big Announcement:-
One of the biggest companies in tech world Microsoft has recently took the unexpected step to enter in marijuana industry. For the same, the giant announced a partnership with KIND Financial, a Los Angeles firm, touted to be leader in technology for cannabis compliance. Kind Financial sells computer systems to governments that track legalized marijuana sales. Microsoft will be licensing Kind to sell Microsoft cloud services to authorities that will be monitoring sales. In this way Microsoft will not be directly involved in the trade. We must say that it’s a big step by Microsoft to accept Marijuana, which is still illegal under federal law of US.
Colorado’s former Senior Leader of Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division and author of Colorado’s groundbreaking medical marijuana laws and regulations, Matt D. Cook will be serving as Kind’s ‘Special Advisor on Government Matters’. KIND Financial Founder & CEO David Dinenberg during the big announcement had said that, “I am delighted that Microsoft supports Kind’s mission to build the backbone for cannabis compliance.”
What does Kind do?
Founded in 2013, KIND Financial sells marijuana tracking software to growers, sellers and governments. Kind’s Technology Platform gives an entire cannabis-business lifecycle through its Agrisoft Seed to Sale software. This helps the producers and retail operators to understand the important tools for plant tracking and management.
How will tie up benefit KIND?
Through Microsoft Azure cloud services, Kind will pursue compliance contracts. “Microsoft’s government sales team will work with Kind in bidding on those contracts,” Dinenberg said during the announcement. Through the tie up, Microsoft will add a new product in cloud computing business that will help states to keep a tab in sales and commerce of legalized use of marijuana for the medical or recreational purpose, ensuring that they remain in day light of legality. But, is it as simple as it looks? Wondering what is the other reason for Microsoft to enter? The future of this tie up?
Behind the story
In US state after state is legalizing marijuana in one way or the other and till date 25 states are allowed to sell marijuana with a detailed prescription from doctor or taking in account the circumstances of the individual. But according to federal government it is still illegal. It is said that very soon at least four states plan to vote and make marijuana legal and those includes Washington, Oregon and Colorado who are permitting recreational use of the drug. Taking this into account, an expert on the basis on anonymity explained the details and showed another side of the story, “Microsoft has foreseen the bright future of marijuana industry and hence the big tie up. Among the states where Marijuana will be legalized, California is among the one and if that happens, then the legal marijuana sales will rise to more than $6 billion this year that was almost $4.5 billion in 2015. With rise in sales each year, the sales are expected to touch more than $25 billion by end of 2021. Looking at the figures, we can clearly understand that legal Marijuana market will be increasing at a rapid pace and Microsoft has taken the first big step towards the same. Not just that, since Microsoft is a big name in the industry, no other industry will try to enter and by the time they do and Microsoft will be a key player. These seem to be the prime reasons for Microsoft to enter in spite of the move being considered as a controversial from mainstream companies.”
He further added, “Through this partnership, KIND will bring their business in forefront and also will be able to use Microsoft sales team as stated in the contract. Which means through Microsoft they will expand their arena.”
According to Dinenberg, Founder and CEO of KIND during the announcement said that “We go after the contract and we are able to use the Microsoft sales team. They use their political connections. We use ours.”
Ms. Nelson of Microsoft said that initially her company would be marketing the Kind software at conferences for government employees, but it could eventually also be attending the cannabis events where Kind is already a regular presence.
Kind trying to take the marijuana business forefront and giving wide range of products of marijuana that would include A.T.M.-style kiosks, working with state- chartered banks that facilitate marijuana sales, Thus making it easy access to customers. Another expert commented that, “If sales of Marijuana goes up, the economy will be on a rise but what about the health of people? If Marijuana is available at kiosks then anyone will be able to get it with a snap which is alarming for the country.” But Microsoft will be not getting close to these kiosks and plants and will be working with Kind’s government solution division.
There is also an assumption that federal government can decide to stop the legalization of Marijuana in the states, but the possibility of the same is quite low.
After all the detailed analysis, all we can say is it’s a bold and smart move by Microsoft.
One of the biggest companies in tech world Microsoft has recently took the unexpected step to enter in marijuana industry. For the same, the giant announced a partnership with KIND Financial, a Los Angeles firm, touted to be leader in technology for cannabis compliance. Kind Financial sells computer systems to governments that track legalized marijuana sales. Microsoft will be licensing Kind to sell Microsoft cloud services to authorities that will be monitoring sales. In this way Microsoft will not be directly involved in the trade. We must say that it’s a big step by Microsoft to accept Marijuana, which is still illegal under federal law of US.
Colorado’s former Senior Leader of Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division and author of Colorado’s groundbreaking medical marijuana laws and regulations, Matt D. Cook will be serving as Kind’s ‘Special Advisor on Government Matters’. KIND Financial Founder & CEO David Dinenberg during the big announcement had said that, “I am delighted that Microsoft supports Kind’s mission to build the backbone for cannabis compliance.”
What does Kind do?
Founded in 2013, KIND Financial sells marijuana tracking software to growers, sellers and governments. Kind’s Technology Platform gives an entire cannabis-business lifecycle through its Agrisoft Seed to Sale software. This helps the producers and retail operators to understand the important tools for plant tracking and management.
How will tie up benefit KIND?
Through Microsoft Azure cloud services, Kind will pursue compliance contracts. “Microsoft’s government sales team will work with Kind in bidding on those contracts,” Dinenberg said during the announcement. Through the tie up, Microsoft will add a new product in cloud computing business that will help states to keep a tab in sales and commerce of legalized use of marijuana for the medical or recreational purpose, ensuring that they remain in day light of legality. But, is it as simple as it looks? Wondering what is the other reason for Microsoft to enter? The future of this tie up?
Behind the story
In US state after state is legalizing marijuana in one way or the other and till date 25 states are allowed to sell marijuana with a detailed prescription from doctor or taking in account the circumstances of the individual. But according to federal government it is still illegal. It is said that very soon at least four states plan to vote and make marijuana legal and those includes Washington, Oregon and Colorado who are permitting recreational use of the drug. Taking this into account, an expert on the basis on anonymity explained the details and showed another side of the story, “Microsoft has foreseen the bright future of marijuana industry and hence the big tie up. Among the states where Marijuana will be legalized, California is among the one and if that happens, then the legal marijuana sales will rise to more than $6 billion this year that was almost $4.5 billion in 2015. With rise in sales each year, the sales are expected to touch more than $25 billion by end of 2021. Looking at the figures, we can clearly understand that legal Marijuana market will be increasing at a rapid pace and Microsoft has taken the first big step towards the same. Not just that, since Microsoft is a big name in the industry, no other industry will try to enter and by the time they do and Microsoft will be a key player. These seem to be the prime reasons for Microsoft to enter in spite of the move being considered as a controversial from mainstream companies.”
He further added, “Through this partnership, KIND will bring their business in forefront and also will be able to use Microsoft sales team as stated in the contract. Which means through Microsoft they will expand their arena.”
According to Dinenberg, Founder and CEO of KIND during the announcement said that “We go after the contract and we are able to use the Microsoft sales team. They use their political connections. We use ours.”
Ms. Nelson of Microsoft said that initially her company would be marketing the Kind software at conferences for government employees, but it could eventually also be attending the cannabis events where Kind is already a regular presence.
Kind trying to take the marijuana business forefront and giving wide range of products of marijuana that would include A.T.M.-style kiosks, working with state- chartered banks that facilitate marijuana sales, Thus making it easy access to customers. Another expert commented that, “If sales of Marijuana goes up, the economy will be on a rise but what about the health of people? If Marijuana is available at kiosks then anyone will be able to get it with a snap which is alarming for the country.” But Microsoft will be not getting close to these kiosks and plants and will be working with Kind’s government solution division.
There is also an assumption that federal government can decide to stop the legalization of Marijuana in the states, but the possibility of the same is quite low.
After all the detailed analysis, all we can say is it’s a bold and smart move by Microsoft.
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