Microsoft and Marijuana: The Cannabis Industry Makes It To The Major Leagues

(photo cred: Hightimes.com)

Microsoft partnered with Kind Financial, a Los Angeles based startup financial technology firm with a cannabis industry focus.


(photo cred: TechTimes.com)

This is the first time in history, a major tech company has openly attached its name to anything dealing with the marijuana market.

According to Fortune Magazine, “Kind Government Solutions will use Microsoft’s Azure cloud to collect and monitor the data that’s needed for ensuring compliance with the patchwork of U.S. laws relating to marijuana production.”

Translation: Microsoft will be assisting Kind Financial with keeping track of the cannabis production and sales, making sure it’s in compliance with government standard.

In fact, Microsoft claims to be “the only cloud platform designed to meet government standards for the closely regulated cannabis compliance programs.” The marijuana industry is a growing billion dollar industry and everyone seems to be getting in on the deal, from the stay-at-home moms to the fortune 500 companies. There’s money to be made and everyone wants their stake. Cannabis still isn’t legal at the Federal level but the way things are moving, that change may not be too far off.

(photo cred: NyTimes.com)


A company of Microsoft’s caliber openly getting in on the action is pretty major. David Dinenberg, the founder and chief executive of Kind, said “it had taken a long time and a lot of courting of big-name companies to persuade the first one to get on board”.

Hmmm, “courting” you say? Wonder what all that entailed and how many bags of chips were involved (get it? Smoker’s joke, nevermind) Anyways, if you have ever thought about setting up shop and being a part of the LEGAL marijuana business, the time is now.

-written by Chandra Meadows for POP ATL