Melissa Harrington
Tax PartnerAprio Advisory GroupMelissa Harrington has built her career in one of the most complex and fast-changing corners of the economy: the cannabis industry. Her connection to the field runs deep — her graduate thesis examined the medicinal benefits of cannabis and was later published as a white paper. A seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience, she has worked almost exclusively in this space since 2014, guiding operators through a tax and regulatory landscape that rewards deep specialization. As a partner in the tax department at Aprio (formerly Price Kong), she leads the firm's cannabis tax practice, helps grow the team, brings innovative technology into the practice, and helps Aprio deliver the service these businesses count on.
Melissa understands the challenges these businesses face, from IRC Section 280E compliance to multi-state consolidations and rules that shift from state to state. Her clients range from local operators to publicly traded companies with multi-state operations, including cultivators, processors, distributors, transporters, dispensaries, investors, and ancillary businesses. Across the United States, she is a recognized specialist in cannabis business tax compliance, tax strategy, tax advisory, mergers and acquisitions, consolidations, and business formation.
Melissa pairs deep tax knowledge with a strong understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the realities of running a cannabis business. She is known for her clarity, responsiveness, and commitment to helping clients meet their financial goals. A regular participant at state and national cannabis industry conferences, she speaks frequently on cannabis topics, including events hosted by the Marijuana Industry Trade Association (MITA) and MJBizCon. In 2025, she was named to the Top 200 Cannabis Accountants directory.
She is a member of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) and the Arizona Society of Certified Professional Accountants (ASCPA). Melissa is also a member of several local and national cannabis/hemp industry groups.
280E Awareness: Smart Tax Moves for Cannabis Operators
The 280E landscape is shifting faster than most operators can track, and the decisions you make now could mean recovering serious cash or leaving it
The 280E landscape is shifting faster than most operators can track, and the decisions you make now could mean recovering serious cash or leaving it on the table. This session translates recent 280E developments into clear, actionable tax strategy f
The 280E landscape is shifting faster than most operators can track, and the decisions you make now could mean recovering serious cash or leaving it on the table. This session translates recent 280E developments into clear, actionable tax strategy for cannabis business owners and tax professionals.
The panelists will move past speculation to address the questions that hit your balance sheet directly. They'll examine amended return strategies,
The 280E landscape is shifting faster than most operators can track, and the decisions you make now could mean recovering serious cash or leaving it on the table. This session translates recent 280E developments into clear, actionable tax strategy for cannabis business owners and tax professionals.
The panelists will move past speculation to address the questions that hit your balance sheet directly. They'll examine amended return strategies, defensible COGS positioning, and how to identify open refund windows before they close. You'll get a grounded read on what current rulings permit, where the real risk sits, and how to align filings with cannabis business compliance expectations.
Set against today's cannabis market trends, this discussion turns regulatory complexity into concrete decisions you can act on the moment you leave the room. Join this session to uncover the cannabis industry opportunities hidden in your tax position.
