Top 200 Cannabis AccountantsDark Horse CPAs
Dark Horse CPAs is a national accounting firm built to serve cannabis businesses of all sizes. From single-location dispensaries to fully integrated, multi-state operators, our Cannabis Division delivers tax and CFO advisory that’s designed for the unique challenges of this industry.
We handle the details that matter—280E tax strategy, bookkeeping compliance, outsourced accounting, and fractional CFO services—so you can focus on running and scaling your operation. Whether you’re in retail, cultivation, manufacturing, or cannabis e-commerce, our CPAs work with you one-on-one to minimize tax exposure, streamline financial systems, and provide clear, actionable insights all year long.
With Dark Horse, you get more than a tax return—you get a strategic partner to help maximize your bottom line in one of the most complex industries in the country.
John Warner
John Warner knows cannabis tax and accounting from every angle—including the one most business owners lose sleep over: 280E compliance. As a Principal at Dark Horse CPAs, John partners with dispensaries, cultivators, manufacturers, and vertically integrated operators to turn one of the most complex tax codes in the country into a clear, actionable strategy.
Before cannabis, John cut his teeth at the IRS (yes, he’s heard all the jokes) and then spent seven years at a national CPA firm building a real estate tax practice for large international investment groups. That mix of inside knowledge and high-level advisory work gives him a unique edge when it comes to structuring cannabis businesses for long-term growth and compliance.
Beyond tax strategy, John helps owners get control of their reporting, budgeting, and cash flow so they can run smarter, more profitable operations. His approach is direct, practical, and always focused on one thing: helping cannabis entrepreneurs maximize their bottom line while staying ahead of the IRS.
Mike Madden
For Mike Madden, business—like life—is a team sport. After two decades as a paramedic and firefighter, he brought that same teamwork mindset into public accounting, where he helps cannabis business owners navigate some of the toughest financial terrain out there.
Mike specializes in fractional CFO support and state and local cannabis tax strategy, giving dispensaries, cultivators, and multi-state operators the financial clarity they need to grow with confidence. From cash flow forecasting and budgeting to compliance with ever-changing local regulations, Mike’s focus is on helping owners stay compliant while building more profitable operations.
His path to Dark Horse was anything but conventional. Mike started preparing taxes for fellow firefighters in 2002, became a CTEC-certified tax preparer, earned his EA credential, and later his CPA license in California—all while serving full-time in emergency medicine. He built and ran his own firm before merging it with a legacy Encinitas practice in 2017. That mix of resilience, discipline, and entrepreneurial grit now powers his work with cannabis operators nationwide.
Riana Linsky
Most people don’t get excited about 280E. Riana Linsky does. As a cannabis tax and accounting expert at Dark Horse CPAs, she helps dispensary owners, cultivators, and operators turn one of the industry’s toughest challenges—280E compliance—into a manageable, strategic part of their business.
Riana specializes in tax advisory, compliance, and financial forecasting for cannabis entrepreneurs who want more than just a tax return. She partners with owners to build clear reporting systems, plan for cash flow, and uncover tax strategies that strengthen both their operations and their bottom line.
Before joining Dark Horse, Riana built her expertise at both small and large firms, but it was the freedom to run her own practice under the Dark Horse platform that gave her the perfect equation: Riana + Her Own Practice = Dark Horse CPAs.
Outside of the numbers, she’s all about live music, exploring trails and waterfalls, and time with her partner Robert, plus their four-legged crew—Spike and Lea.
Address & Contacts
Address: 2033 San Elijo Ave Ste 148, Encinitas, CA, United States, California
Email: john@darkhorse.cpa
Phone: 619-736-1404
Website: https://cannabis.darkhorse.cpa