January 15, 2021; Phoenix, AZ—PRESS RELEASE—The passage of adult-use marijuana presents huge opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs, but the highly regulated cannabis industry can be difficult to navigate.

MITA, Arizona’s Cannabis Trade Association, is offering a complimentary, 16-week Social Equity Applicant Mentorship Program sponsored by Copperstate Farms, Weedmaps and Scottsdale Community College designed to help social equity applicants secure one of the 26 licenses Prop. 207 mandates to be awarded to minorities.

The comprehensive course covers all aspects of the cannabis industry, the license application process and the business details to run a successful enterprise. The weekly classes start Jan. 21 and run through April. They will be archived so participants can watch on their schedule and review modules.

“The industry has a greater duty to help those who will come next especially those who are in the social equity category,” said Demitri Downing, executive director of MITA.

The Social Equity Membership Program is presented by Downing, Dr. Will Humble, former director of Arizona Public Health Association, Paul Paredes of AZ MJ Logic and Jeff Tice, a CPA who works in the cannabis industry. Each week, the program will also have a panel of experts in the topic drawn from the top cannabis industry professionals in Arizona.

The program is the first of its kind in the country and can be used as a model for other states and industry associations interested in presenting a similar program.

Participants can register for the free course here.