Illicit Cannabis Brand | 100% Employee-Owned and Operated

Illicit is an employee-owned cannabis brand supported by the people who shape it, backed by the largest employee stock option program in cannabis history.

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Illicit is Now 100% Employee-Owned

At Illicit, the heart of the brand lives long before anything reaches a shelf. It lives in our grow rooms, packaging facility, trim teams, and our production floors - with the people who grow, extract, refine, and perfect every product we release.

That’s why Illicit is proud to operate as a 100% employee-owned company, giving members of our teams a real stake in the brand they build every day. We believe the future of cannabis belongs to the people who actually build it. Employee ownership ensures the brand grows with integrity, rewards craftsmanship, and

stays rooted in the people behind every harvest and batch.

To date, Illicit’s Employee Stock Option Program is the largest of its kind in the history of the cannabis industry, a milestone that reflects both our scale and our commitment to the people doing the work.

This program extends to our employees across all currently operating states, including our cultivation, manufacturing, and retail operations. 

What Employee Ownership Means at Illicit

Through a structured ownership model, eligible Illicit team members earn ownership in the company over time, all without buying in or paying out of pocket. Their work directly shapes the success of the brand, and they share in that success. For Illicit, that creates:

• Deeper accountability at every stage of cultivation and manufacturing

• Relentless attention to quality, consistency, and craft

• Teams who think in seasons and systems, not shortcuts

• A culture where pride is visible in the product itself

What does that mean for our customers? When every team member behind the cannabis are also owners, excellence becomes personal and quality reflects our commitment to building something long-term. 

Craft Backed by Ownership

Employee ownership reinforces everything Illicit stands for. From genetic selection, cultivation and trim practices to extraction, formulation, and final packaging. It strengthens our commitment to:

• Meticulous cultivation standards

• Intentional, detail-driven manufacturing

• Innovation led by the people closest to the process

• Consistency you can trust, batch after batch

Ownership aligns passion with responsibility, and responsibility with results.

Same Illicit Standards. Stronger Foundation.

Illicit has always been defined by bold genetics, thoughtful production, and products we believe speak for themselves. Employee ownership doesn’t change our standards. It only raises them.

Every harvest, every formulation, every finished product reflects the fact that the people behind it aren’t just employees. They’re builders. They’re stewards. They’re invested.

Built to Last

By sharing ownership with the teams who power cultivation and manufacturing, Illicit commits to a future grounded in sustainability, accountability, and shared success, not short-term wins.

When you experience Illicit, you’re experiencing the work of a team that owns what they create and stands fully behind it.

Illicit. Crafted by owners, driven by pride, and built to last.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What does employee ownership mean at Illicit?

Employee ownership means eligible members of Illicit’s cultivation and manufacturing teams earn equity in the company through a structured stock option program. As Illicit grows, so does their stake in its success.

How large is Illicit’s employee ownership program?

Illicit’s Employee Stock Option Program is, to date, the largest in the history of 

the cannabis industry, spanning cultivation, manufacturing, and production teams across the organization.

Do employees have to buy in to become owners?

No. Team members do not pay out of pocket to participate. Ownership is earned over time through continued contribution and commitment to the company.

Who is eligible for the program?

Eligibility is based on role, tenure, and program guidelines, with a focus on the teams directly responsible for cultivation, extraction, manufacturing, and product development.

How does employee ownership impact product quality?

Ownership creates long-term accountability. Decisions are made with consistency, sustainability, and pride - because the people making the product directly share in its success.

Why did Illicit choose this model?

Illicit believes the future of cannabis belongs to the people who build it. Illicit believes the future of cannabis belongs to its builders. Employee ownership keeps craftsmanship and integrity at the core.