Get the free guide

Open a dispensary the way working operators do.

Plain-English cheat sheets and step-by-step how-tos, with an AI prompt for every task. Turn weeks of licensing and setup work into afternoons.

Stephen Dunker

Stephen DunkerCannabis industry expert, brand builder, and multi-store owner, operator and consultant. 12 years of knowledge, wrapped into simple AI prompts and advice.

What’s in the free guide

The whole process, from first idea to opening day, in the order you’ll actually do it.

  1. From idea to license
  2. Check the marketIs your state issuing licenses, and when?
  3. Set up your business entityStructure, owners and the 280E tax question.
  4. Build your capital budgetYour real all-in number, with runway.
  5. Find a compliant locationZoning, buffers and local approval.
  6. Assemble your teamThe attorney, CPA and advisors you need.
  7. Prepare your applicationEvery requirement matched to a document.
  8. From license to opening day
  9. Design and build out the storeCustomer flow, back-of-house, the vault.
  10. Plan your securityCameras, alarms, access and cash handling.
  11. Set up compliance systemsPOS, tracking and daily procedures.
  12. Hire and train your staffWhere compliance actually happens.
  13. Stock your opening inventoryCover the basics without dead stock.
  14. Open the doorsSoft open, launch and the numbers to watch.

Every task, drafted with AI in minutes

You don’t need to be technical. If you can copy and paste, you can use these.

  1. 1

    Copy the prompt

    Each task in the guide has one ready to go.

  2. 2

    Fill in your details

    Your state, city, owners and budget. Paste it into Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini.

  3. 3

    Finish with a pro

    Take the draft to your attorney, CPA or vendor. You arrive prepared, and pay for fewer hours.

Example from step 3: Build your capital budget

Build a startup budget for a [size] sq ft dispensary in [city, state]. Include license and legal fees, rent and deposit, build-out, security, POS software, opening inventory, 3 months of payroll, insurance, marketing and 6 to 12 months of operating runway. Show low, mid and high estimates and mark every number I need to confirm with a real quote.

State cheat sheets

Licensing rules are different in every state. Each cheat sheet covers what applies where you are, with dated sources. Tell us your state when you sign up and you’ll hear first when yours is ready.

Virginia

First state cheat sheet: live now

  • Rules finalizedExpected Jan. 2027
  • First applicationsBy Feb. 1, 2027 (some types)
  • Retail store licensesUp to 350, by lottery
  • Sales beginJuly 1, 2027

Includes the requirement most applicants miss: every applicant needs a labor peace agreement with a union.

Read the Virginia guide

Your state next

New cheat sheets are added as states open licensing windows. Pick your state when you sign up.

Stephen Dunker

Stephen Dunker

Stephen is a cannabis industry expert and brand builder. He owns and operates multiple licensed dispensaries and consults for other operators. Over 12 years in the industry, he has handled every part of running a store: licensing, build-out, compliance, hiring, inventory, and the day-to-day work of serving customers.

He started You Can Retail to wrap that knowledge into simple AI prompts and practical advice, the kind that usually only comes from opening and running dispensaries yourself. He’s also available for speaking and one-on-one advisory work.

Start with the free guide