MITA is Arizona’s cannabis industry trade association—but they’re primed to drive change across the whole country with their industry-shaping model. Drawing the blueprint for education and advocacy that propels the cannabis industry forward, MITA brings industry professionals together to make collective progress possible.

MITA brings industry professionals together to make collective progress possible.

Since its start in 2016, MITA has operated as a non-profit organization in Arizona, growing in membership throughout that time and shaping industry change through its impactful initiatives. Education, transparency, inclusivity, and advocacy for thoughtful free-market-oriented regulations form the core of what drives MITA and sets the foundation for everything they do.

Like Leafly, MITA isn’t directly engaged in plant-touching activities. Instead, they share policy information and resources on the evolving cannabis landscape with diverse stakeholders across the nation, from media and politicians to consumers and industry professionals. With this advocacy, their best-in-class podcasts and videos, and monthly industry events, MITA has emerged as the home for people and businesses dedicated to moving the cannabis industry forward.

A dynamic network of cannabis professionals

If you’re in Arizona, you’re likely well-familiar with MITA’s engaging cannabis networking events. Hosted monthly and typically attracting over a thousand eager attendees, these events form a nexus where cannabis industry professionals meet to foster progress.

The energy at MITA’s cannabis business networking events is infectious, as stakeholders from every corner of the industry get the opportunity to share ideas, celebrate wins, and gain perspective. Members especially look forward to events like the annual MITA Charity Golf Tournament where fun and sun are shared in equal measure to shoptalk and critical resources.

Education with impact

MITA sets itself apart by creating video series and podcast resources that genuinely inspire while sharing essential perspective directly from people working in the cannabis industry.

You see MITA’s unwavering commitment to social equity come to life with the “Cannamentors,” “Social Equity Mentorship Modules,” and “Social Equity Deep Dive” video series. Cannamentors interviews a huge spectrum of industry professionals to understand how they came to the cannabis industry, the hurdles they’ve overcome, and the advice they have for other members in the industry and aspiring professionals.

There are few other places like it where you can find such a deep-looking collection of insight on how to move and find success in the cannabis industry. Watching the series, you’re sure to find invaluable perspective on navigating the business of cannabis, but you’ll also leave feeling inspired, having listened to the stories of so many people who made a place for themselves in this ever-evolving space.

Fostering social equity with critical resources

MITA has emerged as a pioneering force in the cannabis industry by creating exceptional video resources tailored for social equity groups across multiple states. “Social Equity Mentorship Modules” and “Social Equity Deep Dive” are both driven by inclusivity and education, mapping out a detailed guide to the intricacies of state-based social equity programs as well as sharing critical knowledge on how to navigate the dynamic cannabis industry in the future. 

These resources foster a more equitable and informed industry by empowering social equity groups to understand and thrive within the complex framework of their local cannabis programs. They deliver insight from leading experts and create a more connected community within the cannabis industry. MITA then strengthens that connected community with events and video series like their Virtual Town Hall series, where members get the opportunity to share perspective and discuss challenges to move forward together.

MITA Unshackled: Setting the bar high with their award-winning podcast

Launched in June 2022 at ICBC Berlin, the MITA Unshackled podcast immediately made waves with its industry leader interviews, providing an engaging format to unravel the complexities of the cannabis world. Understanding the need for a platform to provide in-depth education for those unfamiliar with the industry, MITA Unshackled immediately set to work with immense support from the community to offer inclusive and insight-dense interviews with leaders from across the industry.

Each episode shares stories and key perspectives on how a diverse spectrum of stakeholders made their way in the industry, offering listeners impactful insight to inform how to grow their own businesses. In 2023, MITA Unshackled was awarded the prestigious, “Cannabis Podcast of the Year” title at The Emjays, highly deserved recognition for a resource that benefits so many.

Get involved with MITA

Joining MITA means becoming part of a community committed to building a strong and sustainable future for the cannabis industry. Membership offers unmatched networking opportunities, exclusive access to industry information, training and education opportunities, local business connections, and brand recognition. MITA’s impressive email list of over 30,000 industry professionals and average open rate of 30% ensures widespread exposure. In 2023, MITA sent 1.64 million emails with a remarkable open count of 565K, making for a 34.51% open rate.

Membership levels include Business Listing (free), Supreme FA Membership ($100), Individual Member ($300 yearly), Business Member ($3,000 yearly), Featured Business Member ($5,000), and Industry Leader ($6,000 yearly). Industry Leader membership offers comprehensive amenities and exclusive benefits, including C-Suite level introductions, speaking opportunities, and more.

MITA stands at the forefront of shaping the cannabis industry’s evolution, fueled by a commitment to education, transparency, inclusivity, and the promotion of thoughtful regulations. With its impactful initiatives, engaging events & series, and influential podcast, MITA continues to be a driving force, leading the way for a progressive and thriving cannabis industry.

Getting involved is easy, so you can join this community of change-makers today. Head to the MITA website to learn more and start connecting.

The federal war on marijuana has entered the end game.

today, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officially moved to re-categorize marijauna as having medical use and a low potential for abuse.

For the first time since 1971, the US federal government is seeking to end cannabis’s designation as a “Schedule I” controlled substance—equivalent to drugs like heroin and PCP. Instead, the US intends to consider marijuana a Schedule III substance—on the same level as codeine.

The Associated Press appears to be the first to report the news, with it being picked up by Marijuana Moment.

Legalization polls in the 70s, and medical legalization polls in the 90s. Cannabis champion and congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) stated in an email:

“If today’s reporting proves true, we will be one step closer to ending the failed war on drugs. Marijuana was scheduled more than 50 years ago based on stigma, not science. The American people have made clear in state after state that cannabis legalization is inevitable. The Biden-Harris Administration is listening.” 

The rescheduling follows a request that President Biden made to US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in October 2022 to review the scheduling of marijuana under federal law. (Biden had simultaneously issued pardons for federal prisoners convicted on marijuana charges.)

In January, activists learned the US Dept. of Health and Human Services had recommended to the DEA that marijuana move to Schedule III.

The re-scheduling move carries immense consequences, from research opportunities to tax code reform for cannabis businesses. Yet it’s far from a silver bullet: On its own, rescheduling does not decriminalize or legalize cannabis; nor does it facilitate interstate commerce for the industry.

Read on to learn more about the significance of cannabis rescheduling, what it accomplishes, and what it leaves unsolved.

What was so bad about Schedule 1?

Marijuana’s Schedule I has proved catastrophic over the decades. In 1971, with a hefty push from the hardcore prohibitionist President Richard Nixon, the DEA added cannabis to the nascent list of Schedule 1 Controlled Substances. Authorities deemed it to have no medical value, and high potential for abuse. Schedule 1 drugs include heroin, cocaine, and quaaludes.

Police arrested millions of Americans for marijuana since 1971. Drug arrests became the No. 1 type of arrest police made, and pot became the No. 1 type of drug arrest. You could lose your children, housing, education, job, and more under the Schedule I designation.

Also, scientists could not study cannabis easily. Furthermore, a drug’s Schedule 1 status prevents its legalization; even today, states that allow for recreational or medical marijuana sales are technically in violation of federal law.

What will Schedule III change?

According to the DEA’s own definition, Schedule III substances present “a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.” Cannabis’ new classification puts it on par with ketamine, Tylenol with codeine, and testosterone.

One of the most potentially consequential impacts of rescheduling is also one of the wonkiest: Thanks to a line in federal tax code referred to as 280e, cannabis businesses pay crippling taxes, sometimes upwards of 65-75%. It also prevents businesses from deducting many of their expenses from their taxes. Thanks to rescheduling, the 280e policy will no longer apply; it could open the door to new growth and investment.

As a Schedule III substance, scientists will have easier access to researching cannabis as well. Furthermore, as Marijuana Moment points out, rescheduling could loosen restrictions around federal employees consuming cannabis.

What does rescheduling leave unfixed?

In short, rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III is just a step toward full legalization. It does not decriminalize personal possession in prohibition states like Texas, nor does it facilitate interstate commerce.

 “It is a rather modest step given the strong support among American voters for comprehensive cannabis reform,” said Matthew Schweich, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, the nation’s leading cannabis policy reform organization.

What’s next?

The DEA’s recommendation for rescheduling now goes up for public comment—likely for several months through the General Election on Nov. 4. President Biden will likely campaign on promises kept. One poll shows the incumbent President receiving an 11 percentage-point bump in voter approval for rescheduling. Medical marijuana polls at 90% approval, while Gallup has legalization polling at 70%.

The rescheduling news offers the chance to increase pressure for bigger change as well, said longtime cannabis tax expert Henry Wykowski. He heads to Washington DC in May to lobby for reform, and said this provides ammo.

“This is good opportunity to keep the pressure up to make sure they really do follow through on it this time,” said Wykowski.

Experts react to the news

Experts applauded the DEA’s rescheduling move, and looked back on the hard-fought win.

Brian Vicente helped lead America into legalization from Colorado and is the founding partner of national cannabis law firm Vicente LLP, which has been actively engaged in the Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform. He said the move is a big effing deal.

We have entered a new era of dialogue and policy around this historically maligned plant.”

Brian Vicente, Vicente LLP, Colorado

“This is a remarkable about-face by the DEA, which spent decades denying the true medical value of the cannabis plant. While a strong case can be made for removing cannabis from the federal drug schedules entirely, rescheduling marks a huge step forward for commonsense cannabis policy in our country. This action will have massive impacts, both practically for the cannabis industry and symbolically for the reform movement. We have entered a new era of dialogue and policy around this historically maligned plant.”

Shawn Hauser, partner at Vicente LLP who closely follows the federal scheduling process called ther move, “likely the best outcome possible, given the realities of the federal administrative review process. This historic action by the Biden administration has the potential to embolden Congress to finally pass legislation that federally legalizes and regulates cannabis for medical and adult use.”

The top cannabis tax attorney Wykowski affirmed rescheduling offers relief to embattled cannabis licensees. Their taxes would go down. They would be able to take business deductions for the first time.

“[The tax code section 280E] been a terrible, unfair burden on the whole licensed industry—people who are really trying to comply with the law. It favored people in the illicit market who continued to sell without being licensed, regulated, tested, or taxed.”

NASA‘s recent collaboration with the International Space Research Consortium to launch a mission testing the cultivation of cannabis in the microgravity of space has stirred a whirlwind of interest and controversy across the globe. This initiative aims to unravel the mysteries of how low-gravity environments affect plant growth, with cannabis serving as the pioneering subject. According to Dr. Alfred Terra, the esteemed lead scientist spearheading the project, the conditions in space present an “unparalleled opportunity” to push the boundaries of our understanding of botany and its applications in medicine and agriculture beyond Earth’s confines.

This ambitious endeavor aims to shed light on the potential for utilizing space-based agriculture to support long-duration space missions and future colonization efforts on other planets. The choice of cannabis as a research subject is particularly intriguing due to its complex biochemical makeup and its increasing use in medicinal therapies on Earth. Insights gained from how cannabis adapts to space’s harsh environment could lead to breakthroughs in growing food and medicinal plants in extraterrestrial colonies.

Despite the scientific excitement surrounding the mission, the announcement has been met with its share of skepticism and criticism. Some members of the scientific community and the general public question the allocation of resources toward cannabis research in space, arguing that more pressing scientific and exploratory questions merit attention aboard the International Space Station (ISS). These critics call for a focus on projects that directly contribute to our understanding of space travel’s impacts on human physiology or further our knowledge of the cosmos.

However, the space agencies involved have been quick to highlight the broader implications of this research. They argue that studying cannabis growth in microgravity could offer invaluable insights into plant biology, stress responses, and the possibility of cultivating a variety of crops in space, which are crucial for the long-term sustainability of space exploration and eventual human settlement on other planetary bodies.

Amidst the debates over the mission’s merits and the speculation spurred by its announcement date—April 1st—lies a deeper curiosity about the future of space exploration and the role of innovative agricultural research in that journey. The timing has led some to question the announcement’s authenticity, pondering whether it could be an elaborate April Fool’s Day jest aimed at sparking discussion or simply a coincidence that has amplified the public’s fascination with the project.