A former Microsoft executive is planning to create a marijuana enterprise that he hopes will dominate the legal cannabis industry during the \u201cdot bong era\u201d much like Starbucks dominates the coffee industry.<\/p>\n
\n James Shively, a 45-year-old ex-corporate strategy manager at
\n Microsoft, is working out plans for a national marijuana brand
\n that he will sell at medical pot dispensaries in states where the
\n drug is legal.\n<\/p>\n
\n Shively is currently asking investors for $10 million to start up
\n the business, which he hopes will become lucrative as marijuana
\n becomes decriminalized or legalized across the world. The
\n ex-Microsoft manager hopes to purchase pot dispensaries in
\n Colorado and Washington, where voters legalized recreational
\n marijuana use, and in California, where medical use is legal.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt\u2019s a giant market in search of a brand,\u201d<\/i> he told
\n Reuters. \u201cWe would be happy if we get 40 percent of it
\n worldwide.\u201d<\/i>\n<\/p>\n
\n The United Nations in 2005 estimated that the global marijuana
\n trade is worth $142 billion, and 18 US states have already
\n legalized it for medical use. Shively plans to legally import
\n high-quality weed for his business from Mexico.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cBy creating the category of premium marijuana, we want to
\n position it similar to a fine cognac, a fine brandy, a fine
\n cigar,\u201d<\/i> he told KIRO-TV.\n<\/p>\n
\n The entrepreneur discussed his plans at a news conference in \n \u201cWhat a difference it makes to have Jamen here sitting at my \n Shively\u2019s plans conflict with US federal law, but he hopes to \n \u201cIf they want to come talk to me, I\u2019ll be delighted to meet \n Shively\u2019s plans have been in the words for several months. In \n \u201cHe was supplying hemp rope made from the marijuana tree to \n Shively refers to the present as the \u201cdot bong era\u201d<\/i>, and \n The businessman worked at Microsoft for six years until 2009, but \n \u201cThe buzz is in the air,\u201d<\/i> he told the television station.
\n downtown Seattleon Thursday<\/span>, together with former
\n Mexican President Vicente Fox \u2014 a stark advocate of the
\n decriminalization of marijuana. Shively hopes that the former
\n president will serve as an advisor for the start-up, Reuters
\n reports.\n<\/p>\n
\n side instead of Chapo Guzman,\u201d<\/i> said Fox, explaining that he
\n would rather see Shively sell marijuana legally than the Mexican
\n drug kingpin sell it illegally. \u201cThis is the story that has
\n begun to be written here.\u201d<\/i>\n<\/p>\n
\n circumvent the feds by buying local and state dispensaries where
\n marijuana is legal, as well as exercise a transparent business.\n<\/p>\n
\n with them,\u201d<\/i> he told Reuters. \u201cI\u2019ll tell them everything
\n that we\u2019re doing and show them all our books.\u201d<\/i>\n<\/p>\n
\n December, he told KIRO-TV that he plans to name the business
\n after his great-great grandfather, Diego Pellicer, who was
\n allegedly the world\u2019s largest marijuana producer in the
\n 19th<\/sup>century.\n<\/p>\n
\n the Spanish Armada during the Spanish-American War,<\/i>\u201d Shively
\n told the station. \u201cSo I\u2019ve got marijuana in my blood, so to
\n speak.\u201d<\/i>\n<\/p>\n
\n says he came up with the idea for his business \u201cafter a few
\n bong hits.\u201d<\/i>\n<\/p>\n
\n now believes that the pot industry will join the ranks of the
\n world\u2019s largest corporations.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThis is a new industry in the making, and it\u2019s going to be a
\n giant industry.\u201d<\/i>\n<\/p>\n