Live data from Hacker News

Microsoft is the first big company to say it's serving the legal marijuana trade

nytimes.com

121–130 of 226 posts

Re: Microsoft is the first big company to say it's serving the legal marijuana trade

#121
post #119
post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assume you're being glib, but if anyone was wondering this is very untrue. Restrictive zoning laws mean there are many large neighborhoods in Seattle with zero. Most of the shops are concentrated in a few non-residential neighborhoods.

Technically, maybe, but if you go to one of those locator sites [1] and zoom out to where you can see Bremerton, Seattle, and Bellevue in one screen, you can see that those neighborhoods are the exception. [1] http://weedmaps.com

these sites include medical dispensaries (there are still a ton) and delivery services so are somewhat misleading. I live and work in two different large mixed-use (residential/retail) neighborhoods and there isn't a rec shop within 20 blocks of either.

Re: Microsoft is the first big company to say it's serving the legal marijuana trade

#122
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The absurd thing is that while marijuana being a schedule I drug which in the DEA's own words: >> Schedule I drugs are the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence.[0] Cocaine and methamphetamine are both schedule II. Now I understand the difference is that Schedule II means there are some medical uses but to lump marijuana in with "the most dangerous…

Cocaine and its related metabolites have accepted medical use. Particularly by ENTs and such. Schedule I drugs have no known medical use and high abuse potential, which marijuana currently falls under. Whether or not you agree with that classification is an entirely seperate issue.

I really can't stand when objective issues of science and medicine are framed as something to "agree" or "disagree" with.

The scheduling of cannabis is crap, and literally everybody knows it. The DEA has to embarrassingly dodge the question whenever it's brought up.

Re: Microsoft is the first big company to say it's serving the legal marijuana trade

#123

Good. Maybe they can open a cafe on their campus to sell recreational versions so their people can test their tech and try the product. It'd make many developers I know want to work for Microsoft.

FWIW, there's already a place in Kirkland - pretty close to main MS campus, and even closer to the local Google campus - that gives discounts to employees.

Re: Microsoft is the first big company to say it's serving the legal marijuana trade

#125
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IRS refuses to interact with marijuana businesses That's not even remotely true, as even 30 years ago the IRS happily took my money, and did so without telling anyone else where the money came from. I mean, maybe it's changed since, but when it comes to "IRS won't take my money", ima gonna have to pull the "citation needed" card.

In the mid-80s, you reported income to the IRS as coming from a marijuana business? Bold move. Is there a statutory prohibition on the IRS sharing this info with other law enforcement agencies? Where is the line, i.e. would you expect confidentiality if you reported proceeds from your work as a hitman?

Of a sort. Other agencies can get that data from IRS, but they need to initiate the process, and they need a court order for that. So if they have a reasonable suspicion that someone is committing the crime, they can check that person's tax records; but they can't just trawl the tax return database and see who reported illegal activity.

Re: Microsoft is the first big company to say it's serving the legal marijuana trade

#126
post #49
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But it's manifold more dangerous than cannabis

Alcohol and tobacco are several orders of magnitude more dangerous than anything currently scheduled.

Fentanyl is scheduled, so that's really not true.

Re: Microsoft is the first big company to say it's serving the legal marijuana trade

#127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The IRS explicitly states that you need to declare bribes and income from illegal activities [1] "Illegal activities. Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Form 1040, line 21, or on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity." [1] https://www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch12.html

That's just hilarious! Are you saying drug dealers actually report their income and pay taxes off it?

It depends on your definition of "drug dealer". Companies that operate in the open under state laws that legalized weed normally do report their income and pay federal taxes on it, despite the activity being illegal on federal level.

Re: Microsoft is the first big company to say it's serving the legal marijuana trade

#128
post #57

The system Oregon (and Colorado) uses for recreational is called METRC and is made by a company called Franwell. When I was at training, the spokes person actually asked for hands raised if anyone knew what a REST API was. Their seed-to-sale tracking system (required by law in Oregon), if used for food (just for example) would be able to tell you what corn field, and what corn plant, in Iowa, when and what fertilizer…

If you know: Do you think it is and will be effective? Could illegal vendors, such as Mexican organized crime, find a way into the industry? Let's not forget that organized crime has been involved in many legitimate industries.

"100% Organic, Certified Medellín Cartel"

Re: Microsoft is the first big company to say it's serving the legal marijuana trade

#129
post #49
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But it's manifold more dangerous than cannabis

Alcohol and tobacco are several orders of magnitude more dangerous than anything currently scheduled.

They kill more people simply because they're more popular. I don't think they're more dangerous per dose.

Re: Microsoft is the first big company to say it's serving the legal marijuana trade

#130
post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a weed store about 4 blocks from any given point in Washington state.

I assume you're being glib, but if anyone was wondering this is very untrue. Restrictive zoning laws mean there are many large neighborhoods in Seattle with zero. Most of the shops are concentrated in a few non-residential neighborhoods.

Granted, that's Seattle. Pierce County is rife with them.
Post reply on HN