Raul Molina

Raul Molina points to Super Bowl LVII, held in Glendale in February, as an important moment for the cannabis industry. It was the first time the biggest sporting event of the year took place in a state where recreational cannabis is legal, he said. In anticipation of the big game and the influx of visitors, Molina and his business partner, Eivan Shahara, launched two new dispensaries, including one near the stadium where the game took place.

Molina’s company, Brightfoot Inc., parent of Mint Cannabis, enlisted athletes such as Olympic swimmer Amy Van Dyken-Rouen and football players Jim McMahon and Kyle Turley to help break down stigmas associated with cannabis consumption.

Leveraging the Super Bowl to maximize business is typical of Molina’s business. The company has implemented innovative practices, such as operating the first Arizona dispensary until midnight 365 days per year, and offering 24-hour weekend service. They introduced a free shuttle service to transport passengers from Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport and metropolitan resorts to their dispensaries and became the first dispensary in the country to deliver infused foods to patients.

“Under Raul's leadership, the Mint continues to push the envelope, implementing new forward-thinking practices that capture market share and reflect the evolving cannabis landscape,” the company said.

The company's headquarters in Tempe/Guadalupe contains a 12,000-square-foot flagship dispensary, which is the largest in Arizona and the third largest in the U.S. The operator has four additional retail locations in Phoenix and Mesa. The Mint also has four retail locations in Michigan, with another scheduled to open in June and plans to open new cultivation and dispensary locations in Nevada, Missouri, Massachusetts and Illinois.

The Mint launched the nation's first cannabis kitchen in 2018 and a high-tech grow operation in 2019. This year, the Mint, with more than 300 employees, is projected to surpass $75 million in revenue.

In addition to his role as chief operations officer and co-founder at the company, Molina is committed to philanthropy and engaging with the communities they serve. The Mint has donated over $3 million to various nonprofit organizations, supported medical research and engaged in grassroots initiatives to help underserved individuals facing PTSD, cancer and other debilitating diseases.

Molina believes in going beyond financial contributions, offering a platform for nonprofits to share their messages and encouraging employees to actively participate in community outreach efforts.

Molina said his biggest professional risk is “pushing the limits of the work/family balance. Family should always be first, but sometimes time is of the essence and work can’t wait.”