When Silver Therapeutics opened its doors at 1778 Greeley Street in Stillwater on May 5, something quiet but significant happened: A city got its first regulated cannabis retail experience. No more gray-market hemp products. No more unclear sourcing. Just a fully licensed, locally staffed dispensary with a custom mural on the wall and a team trained to answer the questions Minnesota has been asking for years.
Courtesy of Silver Therapeutics
For General Manager Teresa Klettenberg, the opening represents more than a business milestone. It’s a philosophical shift in how cannabis is sold, discussed, and understood in a state that’s still figuring out what regulated retail looks like.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Klettenberg says. “Local residents have told us they waited months for us to open and are thrilled that we are here. The chamber of commerce welcomed us with open arms.”
That warmth isn’t accidental. Silver Therapeutics deliberately designed the Stillwater location to feel nothing like the transactional, sterile cannabis shops that defined the early black market. The space is bright and airy, with a custom mural anchoring the retail floor. Customers are greeted warmly at the door, walked through the ordering process with suggestions, and checked out with the same care a specialty retailer would offer.
It’s a small thing, but in an industry historically shrouded in stigma and secrecy, it’s radical.
Education as the Foundation
Walk into most cannabis dispensaries, and you’ll encounter one of two extremes: either a knowledgeable but intimidating staff that makes casual users feel out of place, or a transactional environment where people grab what they came for and leave. Silver Therapeutics is betting on a third option: a space where education and approachability aren’t in tension—they’re the same thing.
“Education is at the heart of cannabis retail,” Klettenberg explains. “Many customers come in with little to no experience with cannabis. This is where our budtenders step in. They are educated on all things cannabis and want to help each customer find what is right for them. Cannabis historically has not been accessible in this way, so we wanted to create a light, airy and approachable space that makes everyone feel comfortable walking through our doors.”
The strategy is already working. Since opening, the dispensary has seen a surprising mix of customers—some who’ve never tried cannabis at all, and veterans looking for premium strains. The questions vary wildly, but they tend to cluster around two poles: “What is right for me?” from first-timers, and “What is the best strain you have in stock?” from experienced users.
The budtenders, trained to handle both, have become the real product. They’re the ones translating the cannabis experience from something mysterious and underground into something approachable and knowable.
“We truly believe we can find the right thing for anyone who comes through our doors,” Klettenberg says.
Courtesy of Silver Therapeutics
Building Trust in a New Market
Minnesota’s cannabis rollout has been intentionally cautious. The state is working through early-stage supply constraints and testing bottlenecks, which means availability is limited even as demand is sky-high. It’s the exact opposite of most retail environments, where supply usually outpaces interest.
But Brendan McKee, Silver Therapeutics’ Co-Founder and COO, sees the constraints as an opportunity rather than a problem. “Minnesota is one of the most closely watched cannabis markets in the country right now,” McKee says. “Getting established early allows us to grow with the market and build real relationships in the communities we serve.”
That relationship-building starts locally. Silver Therapeutics hired seven employees from Stillwater and joined the Chamber of Commerce—not flashy moves, but deliberate ones. The company isn’t just opening a dispensary; it’s embedding itself in the community.
“I’m most excited about building our customer base and trust within the community,” Klettenberg says. “The regular customers always bring joy to our day and we are excited to continue growing that base.”
What Sets Silver Therapeutics Apart
Ask Klettenberg what distinguishes the Stillwater dispensary from competitors—real or imagined—and she doesn’t talk about product selection or pricing. She talks about the moment you walk through the door.
“Our customer experience is what will set us apart,” she says. “The moment you step into our dispensary you are greeted warmly by our front desk staff. Then you are led through the ordering process, making suggestions as we go. Finally making it to the counter to check out where you are greeted warmly again and we walk you through the check out process. Customer service is the most important thing in our dispensary.”
It’s a retail philosophy that feels almost quaint in an age of self-checkout and algorithms. But in an industry where many consumers still carry shame or confusion about their own purchases, warmth isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
The dispensary also carries both low-dose hemp-derived products and full cannabis offerings, acknowledging that not everyone is ready to jump into the deep end. “Our goal is simple,” says Assistant General Manager Brent Stariha. “Create a space where anyone can walk in, ask questions, and leave feeling informed and comfortable.”
Courtesy of Silver Therapeutics
Looking Ahead
As Minnesota’s cannabis market continues to evolve—as more growers come online, as more communities get access to regulated retail, as the stigma around cannabis continues to erode—Silver Therapeutics in Stillwater represents something worth paying attention to: a company betting that the future of cannabis retail isn’t about flashiness or speed, but about trust, education, and genuine customer care.
For Klettenberg, the excitement is simple. “As the market expands I am excited to see all the new growers come online and to see how many incredible new products we can stock.”
In the meantime, Stillwater has its dispensary open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. And for the first time, regulated cannabis access in the St. Croix Valley isn’t a question mark anymore—it’s a reality.
