The technology giant is now offering its cloud services to track legal marijuana across the states that allow the use of the plant. Becoming the first major business that enters the legal marijuana industry.

In the last few years, 25 states in the U.S. have legalized cannabis. Some allow the usage of the plant for recreation or as a medical relief. However, this growing business has kept away big companies and popular business, since the plant is not legal under the federal government.

Microsoft enters the cannabis business
Microsoft will provide its cloud services to track legal marijuana across the states that allow the use of the plant. Credit: Business Insider

Microsoft has now become the first major company in the United States to offer its services somewhere near in the legal marijuana business, completing a milestone and breaking a taboo for large corporations.

From now on, Microsoft will be offering the federal government tools to track from “seed to sale” the production and movement of the plant in states, thanks to its alliance with KIND Financial, a company that specializes in technology for cannabis compliance.

The companies are offering a tracking software called “Government Solutions” from which they seek to obtain government-facing contracts to monitor the plant from its production to its selling point.

KIND Financial was created to make cannabis compliance easier, using tools and different technologies that allow companies to track and secure the plant within the legal regulations.

Breaking a taboo in the industry

Microsoft took the initiative to add KIND services to the recently launched Microsoft and Human Services Pod for Managed Service Providers program that seeks to provide the company’s services to State, County and Municipalities in the track and trace industry.

“KIND’s strategic industry positioning, experienced team and top-notch technology running in the Microsoft Azure Government Cloud, made for an easy decision to align efforts. KIND agreed that its services are the only cloud platform that meets government standards,” Kimberly Nelson, executive director of state and local government solutions at Microsoft, said.

Microsoft has assured it will not be touching the physical part of the cannabis business and is not related to its uses. Yet, it is opening the gates for more known companies to join in the future the growing business.

Currently, only small banks are supporting legal marijuana companies, due to its illegalization under the federal government. This fall around four states are planning to vote on the legalization of the plant just like Colorado and other states did.

Supporters of the growing business are hoping that Microsoft’s alliance with KIND will encourage more companies in the country to support or offer their services to the legal cannabis industry, making it more approachable and breaking the taboo.

Source: PR News Wire