In the absence of established apps, a super app was created in China — WeChat — one of the world’s most prominent data collectors that software companies worldwide are watching.
In a video segment, the New York Times once referred to WeChat as a distinctive creature in its own unique lagoon .
This void of traditional offerings has led to the rise of many cannabis technology solutions, some of which, like WeChat, bring unique technology and an established client base as they wait to be released into the ocean of traditional tech competition after potential U.S.
Since states legalized first, the federal government would likely need to play catch-up if decriminalized at the federal level, which is part of the goal of the recently introduced Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act .
From my perspective, the industry should prioritize the creation of an ecosystem of cannabis business tools that offer a one-stop tech solution for any cannabis operator seeking to launch a startup or grow their existing operation in the current and legal future.
The creatures who have been comfortably living in the traditional ocean where cannabis is not yet legal will have to work around the unique “lagoon” ecosystems once merged.
There are steps that cannabis businesses operating in legal markets can take to make the crucial decision of what technologies upon which they can rely today.
Cannabis businesses should consider technologies that will scale with them as they grow, or they risk potentially losing to competition in the future.