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Microsoft is Working On Software For The Legal Marijuana Industry (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the under-the-radar dept.

An anonymous reader writes from a report via The Verge: Microsoft has announced today that it will partner with Los Angeles-based startup Kind on a system for tracking the legal growing and sale of marijuana. Microsoft will work with the startup on software services for governments tracking legal weed, with Microsoft powering the software through its Azure cloud computing service. "The goal of this relationship is to leverage each company's resources to provide State, County, and Municipalities with purpose built solutions for track and trace ('seed to sale' in the cannabis industry) technology," Kind said in a statement. As reported in The New York Times, this is a pretty significant venture for a corporation publicly journeying into the controversial industry. Growing and selling marijuana is still illegal under the federal government.

56 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. Obviously... by nospam007 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Waiting for the Blue Smoke of Death.

  2. Very interesting... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Will the banks stop doing business with Microsoft for fear of being accused of money laundering for the drug lords?

    1. Re:Very interesting... by Threni · · Score: 1

      No, because there's no connection between Microsoft, drug lords or money laundering in this case.

    2. Re:Very interesting... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      No, because there's no connection between Microsoft, drug lords or money laundering in this case.

      Most banks won't handle financial transactions with pot dispensaries. If Microsoft gets involved with this market segment, the banks may not deal with them either. It's the appearance of money laundering, not any actual crime of money laundering.

      Nearly all of the nation's banks refuse to take money from marijuana sales or offer basic checking or credit card services to the industry for fear they'll be shut down by federal authorities, for whom marijuana remains an illegal narcotic. The banks won't do business with growers, processors, retail shops and medical dispensaries, nor with their employees and contractors.

      http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2015/1/5/states-find-you-cant-take-legal-marijuana-money-to-the-bank

    3. Re:Very interesting... by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The situation is likely to get better for pot merchants after the election in November. He won't win, but Bernie supports legalization. Hillary, as always, waffles and says we should "wait and see", but it is unlikely she will toughen policy especially if the political winds are blowing the other way. Donald has expressed support for full legalization of ALL drugs, but that was a while ago, so who knows what he supports this week. But he is unlikely to roll back state level legalization efforts. All the drug authoritarians (Cruz, Christie, etc.), that want to go back to full retard on the drug war, got wiped out in the primaries. Good riddance.

    4. Re:Very interesting... by The-Ixian · · Score: 2

      Interesting hypothesis.

      What would keep MS from creating their own bank or buying a bank?

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    5. Re:Very interesting... by SirSlud · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Banks refuse to take money from pot dispensaries - none of the money from those dispensaries are using payment services from those banks. Pot dispensaries and banks already use Microsoft operating systems and loads of other Microsoft software. There are plenty of pre-existing 2 degrees of separation of cash flow here for this development to present scenario where banks have any fear of being shut down for being tied to the sale of narcotics. No bank is going to go, "Uhoh, we'd better change swaths of our IT infrastructure now because maybe the money pot dispensaries make is spent on Microsoft services, with whom we then do business with." Nor is the federal government going to try and shut down a bank for dealing with Microsoft. If they have any issue with Microsoft's participation in this market, they'd go after Microsoft first.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    6. Re:Very interesting... by macs4all · · Score: 1

      Will the banks stop doing business with Microsoft for fear of being accused of money laundering for the drug lords?

      No, because Obama told the Feds to back-off on that.

    7. Re:Very interesting... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      What would keep MS from creating their own bank or buying a bank?

      Financial regulations. When I worked at eBay/PayPal prior to the Great Recession, the company had a split personality because PayPal was technically a bank as far as government regulators were concern. That required some mental gymnastics to keep various parts of PayPal separated from eBay. That's probably why eBay and PayPal split up into separate companies. Depending on how much money Microsoft throws into a bank, they may get classified as too large to fail. That's why GE sold off its financial arm to Goldman Sachs to avoid being regulated as too big to fail.

    8. Re:Very interesting... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      No, because Obama told the Feds to back-off on that.

      Your link is dated February 2014. My link is dated January 2015. The banks still haven't gotten the memo.

      http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2015/1/5/states-find-you-cant-take-legal-marijuana-money-to-the-bank

    9. Re:Very interesting... by swb · · Score: 2

      It's hard to gauge with Hillary. She backs the authority structure and big money, so pharma, alcohol and law enforcement will likely pressure her into at least not furthering the legalization trend. Plus, she's from the I-inhaled-in-college-only generation and possibly even opposes it personally.

      That being said, she'll face popular opinion -- and pressure from the minorities she's pandered to in the election to quit jailing them over pot use. Plus it's hard to see eliminating it in the states where it's already legal -- the money is too good, and the rightly paranoid have probably vacuum sealed ten lifetimes worth in case the whole deal goes down.

      Trump could go either way, but something tells me the deal maker and businessman would see the value in increased tax revenue and lower policing costs in addition to the entrepreneurial nature of legalization.

    10. Re:Very interesting... by HornWumpus · · Score: 2

      The USA still has a lot of privately held small local banks. Often still owned by a single extended family. I did a year at one. (Moron married to a niece sank it. Couldn't keep a loan origination pipeline hedged, his only job, quarter mil/year in early 90s. No fun at work, great ratio...I digress.)

      Anybody with about 20 million and a non-felon to put up as president can own a bank. There is paperwork of course, don't try to own a bank if you don't like paperwork.

      Paypal is not a bank by US law, is one by EU law. They are a special case where they don't want to be a bank.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    11. Re:Very interesting... by macs4all · · Score: 1

      No, because Obama told the Feds to back-off on that.

      Your link is dated February 2014. My link is dated January 2015. The banks still haven't gotten the memo.

      http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2015/1/5/states-find-you-cant-take-legal-marijuana-money-to-the-bank

      Nice.

  3. Of course they are by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You have to be high to depend on Microsoft products.

  4. The jokes write themselves by OzPeter · · Score: 3, Funny

    What are the smoking to come with this idea?

    1. Smoke Weed,
    2. Azure Cloud
    3. Chilled out clients
    4. Profit!

    Burma Shave!

    --
    I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
    1. Re:The jokes write themselves by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      5. Embrace-Extend-Extinguish

      5a. Inhale-Expand-Exhale

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  5. It's all smoke and... by fyngyrz · · Score: 1, Funny

    It's all smoke and mirrors. Say. What's that in the mirror? Looks like... heh... heh heh... say, what's that in the sink? Oooooo. Huh. Water never sounded like that before. That is SO Awesome. Where's my Pink Floyd CD? I need to get some Fritos, too. Yah, talk to you later.

    --
    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
  6. Make the government launder the money by cat_jesus · · Score: 1

    I was wondering if the marijuana businesses could get around this banking issue by overpaying their taxes in cash and then getting a check for the refund. The bank isn't going to refuse to open an account for a business that is depositing government checks is it?

    This has the added benefit of making the government the money launderer.

    1. Re:Make the government launder the money by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 1

      This has the added benefit of making the government the money launderer.

      The IRS would simply seize the refund as ill-gotten gains of a Federally illegal "crime".

      The solution is the get with the reality that most Americans want legal weed, and in any case, classifying it Schedule 1 drug is simply absurd no matter how you feel about legalization.

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
  7. More spyware... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Now your favorite 3-letter agency will have a new tool to find out who uses pot.

    1. Re:More spyware... by Qzukk · · Score: 1

      I'm sure it will run safe and sound in the Azure Cloud where the federal government won't require a warrant to demand the data since it's being held by a third party.

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
  8. Yeah by c · · Score: 4, Funny

    With the $26 billion Linkedin buyout, it's certainly obvious that Microsoft has a lot of expertise in the cannabis industry.

    --
    Log in or piss off.
  9. Completely fucking pointless! by Khyber · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The software already exists - it's called an INVENTORY/LOGISTICS SYSTEM. Any basic fucking warehouse has one.

    Oh, but this time, WEED IS INVOLVED! That's worth a patent, right?

    Give me a fucking break.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    1. Re:Completely fucking pointless! by tsqr · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I came here to say something similar, then I saw your post. Is there something (aside from the legal issues) that make marijuana a unique product?

    2. Re:Completely fucking pointless! by macs4all · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I came here to say something similar, then I saw your post. Is there something (aside from the legal issues) that make marijuana a unique product?

      Nope. It is the same as growing and selling any cash crop, as far as production, inventory, logistics and bookkeeping go.

    3. Re:Completely fucking pointless! by magarity · · Score: 2

      The software already exists - it's called an INVENTORY/LOGISTICS SYSTEM. Any basic fucking warehouse has one.

      Oh, but this time, WEED IS INVOLVED! That's worth a patent, right?

      Give me a fucking break.

      You underestimate how much work is involved in redoing all the UI with a psychedelic slow motion background and postfixing all the dialog box texts with ", man."

    4. Re:Completely fucking pointless! by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      Come on, Khyber! Call this "TempDog"! After all, that's all it takes !

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
    5. Re:Completely fucking pointless! by Khyber · · Score: 1

      Son, do you not remember who the owner of #foxie was on FurNet?

      Quit doing drugs you burnout dope-fiend.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    6. Re:Completely fucking pointless! by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      Son, do you not remember who the owner of #foxie was on FurNet?

      Yeah, I do.

      Anyway, give your "TempDog" a call, that's all it takes after all. I don't know why you're wasting time, just make the call.

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
    7. Re:Completely fucking pointless! by chasm22 · · Score: 1

      So you're claiming that a wealth of products already exist "to provide State, County, and Municipalities with purpose built solutions for track and trace ('seed to sale' in the cannabis industry) "?

      Or perhaps you misread the article. This isn't about software for the cannibis grower, this is software for the cops basically. This is also where Microsoft in general is gearing products for. Government and businesses.

      I tried googling track and trace software and I didn't see anything except software for the growers. This ain't that. This is software aimed at making sure growers and/or clubs are correctly reporting everything so the government can take their cut.

      I don't like or hate Microsoft. I just don't think about them too much. But I have to say that this software might be a big money maker for them in the future if pot continues to become legal in more and more states..

      If Microsoft gets a head start on the software used by government agencies, it doesn't take a genius to see that the reports these agencies require of growers and sellers will, in all likelihood, be more easily prepared on some form of the same proprietary software. Proprietary and unique and in demand. Profit.

  10. Get Everyone On The Same List by zenlessyank · · Score: 2

    So the government can come in with one swoop and get them all.

    1. Re:Get Everyone On The Same List by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      last entry on the last is little bobby tables.

      (wow, our sql query sure runs fast, today. did you do an optimize or something?)

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
  11. Adventures in Chartered Accountancy by Thud457 · · Score: 1

    That's one way to keep the kids away from the drugz.
    Microsoft is like aqua regia for cool.

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  12. Kind? by mentil · · Score: 1

    Kind? As in the granola bar company? Suddenly I wonder about those hemp seed & chia bars...

    --
    Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
    1. Re:Kind? by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      'kind' is slang.

      kind veggie burrito is a phrase often heard, back in the day, in the parking lot scene at dead shows.

      people in the scene know what 'kind' means. often, the phrase is 'kind bud'.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
  13. Boulder CO has an ecology of Cannabis startups by peter303 · · Score: 2

    There is even a tech startup incubator called Boulder Canopy managing at least eight startups. I attended part of cannabis track at Boulder Startup Week in May. Numerous mom and pop startups buy from a mushrooming service industry (pun intended). The big divide is whether you directly handle leaf or not (farm, process, retail). The industry is shunned by the established financial and computer industry out of fear of seizure laws. Pages are quickly shutdown on conventional social media. So a shadow computer services industry is supplying social, cloud storage etc. yes, people saidtheir cloud apps were banned by all the conventional cloud companies as soon as their nature was discovered.

  14. aint none by frovingslosh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There is no legal marijuana industry in this country. Just a president who refuses to uphold our laws like he pledged to when he took office. And there is no assurance that the next president will not enforce those laws, and use all of those nice public records to help do it.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
    1. Re:aint none by Radical+Moderate · · Score: 1

      Medical marijuana was legal in 13 states during the Bush administration, but I'm sure you pointed out what a scofflaw he was too.

      --
      Never let a lack of data get in the way of a good rant.
    2. Re:aint none by fafalone · · Score: 1

      To which President are you referring? More federal raids of state-legal marijuana businesses were carried out under Obama than were under Bush. If anything, the fault with Obama is not doing anything about the DEA and friends ignoring guidelines about it.

    3. Re:aint none by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      How is it different from alcohol?

      Wait, you have to ask that question? really?
      Well, here is a quick short list off the top of my head (some biased by me admittedly):
      Alcohol withdrawal is far more severe, even potential of death in severe cases. Marijuana withdrawal (especially physical) is mild in comparison.
      Alcohol has the potential to make people more violent is many cases, Marijuana generally chills people out.
      Alcohol in excess is bad for health, Marijuana (aside from smoking it) has no conclusive evidence of harm to ones health*.
      Alcohol problems cost the nation more in policing, health care, hospitals, etc than any other drug (combined).

      *I won't touch mental health, since there is no conclusive proof either way with Marijuana.

    4. Re:aint none by frovingslosh · · Score: 1

      Good points. Alcohol abusers punish themselves. Weed users must be punished by society.

      --
      I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
    5. Re:aint none by blindseer · · Score: 2

      Makes me wonder what implications this has for gun control. The Democrats are working hard to recreate the failed assault weapons ban, what if they are successful and a handful of states pass opposing laws? Will AR-15 rifles be legal in Colorado but not Wyoming?

      I think the federal government set themselves up for failure by not legalizing marijuana a decade ago. Now we have a precedent of federal law getting overruled by state law. If the federal government wants to claim that federal law is supreme then they fucked up a long time ago.

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
    6. Re:aint none by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      The really amazing thing is watching the Korean war generation when it is legalized. Many take to it like ducks to water. Starts out a little toke for the pain, next thing you know, they've replaced a few of the tomatoes and have weed in their pancakes. Really good weed.

      I'll second that. Seen it. Edibles, cooking oils & tinctures, anyways.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  15. The Fed Reserve currently bans pot banks by peter303 · · Score: 2

    The Colorado legislature incorporated a state credit union for handling the growing volume of all cash pot transaction (nearly a billion according state strict monitoring laws). The regional Federal Reserve Bank refused membership of this bank and participation in final clearing services. Without Fed clearing services you cannot transfer money, cash checks or credit. The credit union lost a lawsuit earlier this year to reverse the Feds decision.

  16. Finally a use for microsoft's most hated assistant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Hi I'm 'roach clippy', I see you are trying to manage your weed, I can help you with that.

  17. ROFL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Banks refusing to do business with Micro$oft???

    How can you type that with a straight face?

  18. Like I would trust MS with this info by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

    Lol, like I would trust MS with this information if I was a grower.

    DEA: Who's growing pot that we can harass?
    Microsoft: Click this button for a state-by-state report.

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  19. Rebranding old products... by Lumpy · · Score: 1

    Microsoft BOB will become Microsoft DUDE.
    Project will become 4:20
    One Note will become RollingPapers

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:Rebranding old products... by iggymanz · · Score: 1

      are only the leaves legal or is hash ok too?

      I'm picturing clippy with burning bit of hash on his end, just like Cheech and Chong used to sniff it.

      hash clippy: "like hey man, what's the problem, man?"

      user types in question

      hash clippy "oh wow like that's some really heavy shit man"

  20. why not? by superwiz · · Score: 1

    Medical marijuana is legal in the state of Washington. Although it's still against federal law to even be in possession of the drug. So technically this could pave a way for the federal government's civil forfeiture of some of MS assets.

    --
    Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
  21. Azure by jmcvetta · · Score: 1

    They're going to run it on Azure? What are they smoking?

  22. Sweet! by wardrich86 · · Score: 1

    Windows 420

  23. groovy! by whopub · · Score: 1

    Oh, cool! That must mean they're working on some groovy new WMP visualizations!

  24. If there ever was a case for free software by ebvwfbw · · Score: 1

    Am I the only one scratching their head over this one? Free software, the hippy movement... and so on, I mean this is it! Why isn't it out there already? Seems that by now they should have it all integrated together so you know how much to water, weed, feed, harvest... all that stuff should be out there. All you have to do is add land and do the work.

  25. Ah-HAAAA! by martinfb · · Score: 1

    This explains why MS products are so buggy! The staff has been indulging!

    --


    Self-importance and self-indulgence is the root of ALL evil.
  26. That's a company with TONS of relevant experience by iamacat · · Score: 1

    Microsoft product managers have been heavily smoking weed when working on Zune and Windows Mobile. With Windows 10 they have pretty much been stoned from developer preview days till now. They have now found their true passion and I am sure Microsoft Bong will be a way more successful product than Microsoft Bob. Why, the whole company name signifies what happens to some men when they overindulgence.