https://static.timesofisrael.com/www/uploads/2015/02/bud-tender.jpg

## Let There Be Smoke
California has always been a revolutionary state, whether you speak about the Black Panthers and their involvement in the controversial **DEMANDING** and lobbying techniques of civil rights, or if you talk about their role in the film and entertainment industry. Now California is jumping to the forefront of the fight for legal recreational marijuana in the country. California is the most populous state in our *sometimes* great nation and on January 1st 2018, recreational marijuana was legalized in California. Finally, after years of flirting with decriminalization and legalization via medical marijuana laws, California took the big leap that many expected they would have done a lot sooner. People in California can finally enjoy a nice smoke (or doink, if you’re partial to that slang*) without having to worry about the legality of their favorite pastime/hobby.  Owners of the dispensaries that will handle the bulk of legal marijuana sales are going to find themselves in the same paradigm that their Colorado counterparts are in currently; running a business that is legal state-wise, but also federally illegal. 
 

## But what about the money?	
Since the owners of these shops cannot easily obtain bank accounts, they run an entirely cash business. Aside from not being able to obtain bank accounts, being a cash business runs a much higher risk than the rest of modern businesses that manage their finances online or through some kind of web application linked to their banks. Physical theft, accounting for large amounts of cash and having customers pay in cash only are just some of the complications of not being able to coalesce with the rest of finance and business in the 21st century. Enter Tokken. 
## Tokken
Tokken was founded in 2016 by Lamine Zarrad. Mr. Zarrad found that blockchain could help with the inability of the shops to process debit and credit card payments. He figured that if he could utilize the blockchain to allow the shops to cryptographically log all of the sales AND process payments. It processes payments by accepting the payment, “converting” it to tokens and allowing the account to be converted into fiat currency whenever the account owner wishes to have it deposited in their bank account. This makes it easier to obtain and maintain a business bank account because you are not constantly bringing in mounds of cash, which always looks like some kind of money laundering scheme. There is a lot more to the technical side of it including a proprietary compliance program that allows Tokken to comply with all regulatory requirements. This is the future of banking for “cash-intensive” businesses like the business of Cheeba (I’m talking about weed, I’ve just always wanted to use the word Cheeba, sorry, but I had to **). 

<center>(https://steemitimages.com/DQmbj3WFQ5wsWeKyi3JChRHpa66FfUWDw2EPRCTL3fYvkYc/image.png
</center> <center>*Lamine Zarrad, Founder of Tokken*</center>

Mr. Zarrad is making a difference for these good and decent business owners that for a long time have not had any kind of way of handling their funds, regardless of how legitimately those funds were acquired. Marijuana legality has always been a topic of contention but, in all honesty, we all knew that the day would come when it would be legal. Eventually, all states will have legalized it which means federally it will eventually be legal as well. I feel that while Mr. Zarrad does extract a percentage for each sale, as he should, he is still doing these people an invaluable service. If any of you peeps out there have an amazing idea that you know can help people, go for it. Seriously, go change the world. As always, good luck and stay well ***.




## Footnotes:
 ( * ) I really love referring to blunts as “doinks”, don’t know why I just do. I think I saw a video once where some guy said it and I was like “yup, that’s now my only way to describe a blunt”. 
( ** ) Once again, this is another one of my slang obsessions. Cheeba! Doesn’t it just sound so gleeful and almost fantastical like a character in the Chronicles of Narnia? CHEEBA! 
(***)	For those of you that have read my last couple of articles, you may have noticed this is my new catchphrase. I’m going for a Walter Cronkite-ish sign-off kind of deal. 

## References: 
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/15/tokken-credit-card-pay-marijuana-pot.html
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/tokken
https://www.ibm.com/blogs/insights-on-business/ibmix/blockchain-based-payment-changing-cannabis-industry/