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Former Microsoft exec to launch high-end pot business

By | December 3, 2012, 4:17 AM PST

A world away from software, a former Microsoft manager says he intends to launch a premium marijuana business in Washington.

According to Kiro TV, James Shively will be making the most of a bill that recently legalized the possession and distribution of pot by building a premium pot service in the state of Washington.

The report says that plans for the business have already been hashed out, and Shively will spend the next year researching his retail marijuana enterprise, which he hopes will eventually bring legitimacy to the sale of cannabis.

The product won’t be cheap, according to the former Microsoft executive, who says premium pot should be similar to a “fine congnac, a fine brandy, [or] a fine cigar,” and is “something to be savoured by responsible adults.”

According to reports, the business will be named after his great grandfather, who was the world’s largest marijuana producer in the 19th century.

“He was supplying hemp rope made from the marijuana tree to the Spanish armada during the Spanish-American War,” Shively told Kiro TV. “So I’ve got marijuana in my blood, so to speak.”

Recently, the state of Washington approved legislation which means that from 6 December this year, it will be legal for American citizens 21-year-old or above to possess, produce and distribute marijuana. Under the bill, known as Initiative 502, stipulates that drivers cannot have over 5 nanograms of THC — found in the plant — in their system. Economically, billions could potentially be made for the state through legalizing the drug.

Image credit: Flickr

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Charlie Osborne

About Charlie Osborne

Charlie Osborne is a contributing editor for SmartPlanet.

Charlie Osborne

Charlie Osborne

Contributing Editor

Charlie Osborne is a freelance journalist and graphic designer based in London. In addition to SmartPlanet, she also writes the iGeneration column for business technology website ZDNet. She holds degrees in medical anthropology from the University of Kent.

Follow her on Twitter.

Charlie Osborne

Charlie Osborne

Charlie Osborne does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what she covers.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

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+1 Vote
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Feds are not buying it
The idea of investing large sums of money in something the Feds will in the end smash is rather silly. But hey pal ....microsoft has invested a whole lot more in sillyer things. Like Windows 8...lol
You should smash it yourselves.
Posted by jpwalkerjr
3rd Dec
+5 Votes
+ -
Owwww
'plans for the business have already been "hashed" out'????

Tsk, tsk, Charlie!

And as for JPs comment above, it's true that the first entreprenuers in a new business - the trailblazers - usually fail, but at some point people are going to make (legal) money in this industry in amounts never before seen in the history of the commerce of human culture. It will all depend on when, how and where it's done.
Posted by omb00900@...
3rd Dec
-4 Votes
+ -
THE USA WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
Here in the USA everything goes The Good, The bad and The ugly. This country has a great foundation when it comes to helping others and the value of being treated equally no matter where you come from as it appears. Bottom line it's not really Roses anymore because our justice system defends criminals too much and laws override other laws just to protect them. People want to behave bad and act wild and then go and claim that they are mentally insane and get away with it. Drug dealers are everywhere, Guns are all over. The USA have become a drug user and seller paradise. Laws protect them and gives them all sorts of benefits like medicaid, food stamps and SSI. What is next stay tuned.
Posted by edwin1234
3rd Dec
+2 Votes
+ -
Now we can start exporting something!
Well if Shivey grows high quality pot, may be we can start exporting it to Mexico, China and other countries and make America more prosperous happy
Posted by usdoc1
3rd Dec
0 Votes
+ -
James Shively needs to get a clue and buy a vowel.
Todays pot is incredibly high quality already, has been for decades. Shively is not going to be able to develop anything new nor of higher quality and pot is nothing like a great cigar, fine wine or cognac. The better the weed is, the faster it will hit you and the less you need. Consumption is a few hits and it all tastes very similar and hits you very fast. The pot isn't what is savored, the high you get from smoking it is what is savored.

The pot aficianados have figured all this out decades ago. There is nothing boutique about pot. Medical despencenseries already have it down as far as sellection, price, co-ops, clubs, home delivery, etc.

Shively might as well be saying he is going to open a place to get a flu shot and making lame statements like. "The flu shot wont be cheap, premium flu shots should be similar to a fine congnac, a fine brandy, [or] a fine cigar, and is something to be savoured by responsible adults.
Posted by i8thecat4
4th Dec
-1 Votes
+ -
Medical Billing
Investing money in other business is nice idea but not like marijuana business, it is stupidity. They need to invest in some good cause or business.
Posted by Quanta51
5th Dec
0 Votes
+ -
What
Pot is illcal in the states, so this is a bad idea for the states
Posted by jayjay21
10th Dec
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