Brand Partnership · No License Required
Start a cannabis brand without a license
We work with new brands in exactly your position, so here's how it works. You own the brand and drive the sales. We hold the licenses and do every part that touches the plant — sourcing, manufacturing, testing, packaging, storage, and the licensed sale into dispensaries.
The Structure
Who does what
Your company owns the intellectual property and licenses it to us. We own the cannabis. That separation is what keeps you out of licensing requirements — you are never buying, holding, or selling cannabis at any point. What you do own is the commercial side: building the brand, generating demand, and managing the accounts. Sales and marketing can be added as a separate service if you would rather we run them.
Brand owner
You
- Own the brand name, logo, and artwork
- License the brand to JIT
- Approve specs, packaging, and production runs
- Market the brand and generate demand
- Work dispensary buyers and manage the accounts
Licensed operator
JIT Distro
- Holds the DCC licenses and conducts all cannabis activity
- Sources, manufactures, tests, and packages the product
- Owns and stores the cannabis inventory
- Invoices and ships to licensed dispensaries as seller of record
Common Questions
What new brands ask first
Do I need a DCC license?
No. Everything is done under our brand partnership model. JIT holds the licenses and conducts all cannabis activity. Your company owns the brand — name, logo, artwork — licenses it to us, and pays us for brand services. Because you never buy, hold, or sell cannabis, you don't need a DCC license.
Do I need a local cannabis permit?
No, for the same reason: you aren't conducting commercial cannabis activity. We still recommend a quick check with your own attorney for your specific situation.
Can JIT manufacture, hold, and distribute without product going to me?
Yes, and in fact that's the only way it works. One important clarification: under California law, the cannabis inventory is JIT's, produced and sold under your brand. JIT sources, manufactures, tests, packages, stores, and invoices the finished product directly to licensed dispensaries as the seller of record. Nothing ever ships to you. Being the seller of record is a licensing requirement, not a sales service — finding the accounts and working the buyers is still your side of the deal unless you add sales to your package.
What's the typical MOQ, and what does it cost to get started?
Cost depends on the product, the run size, the packaging, and whether you supply your own boxes or labels — our estimator will itemize a run in about a minute. Manufacturing is only part of the picture, though: a brand also needs packaging, brand setup, and enough working capital to cover the gap between production and the day dispensaries actually pay. We'll walk you through a realistic total on the call and confirm a firm quote once specs are locked.
Who sells the product — you or me?
You do. Marketing, dispensary outreach, and account management are the brand owner's job, and they are the part of this business that never touches the plant — you can run it remotely or work accounts in person. We'll be straight with you about what that takes: buyers largely order from brands they already have a relationship with, so cold outreach is slower than most people expect. If you would rather not build that from scratch, JIT can take sales and marketing on as a separate service, priced on its own rather than bundled into manufacturing. Ask us about it on the call.
This page describes how our brand partnership model is structured. It is general information, not legal advice — check your specific situation with your own attorney.
Start small, scale after the first run sells
That's exactly what most brands do in the beginning. Next step is a quick 15-minute call to walk through specs and our brand partnership agreement.
Office hours Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm · Sacramento, CA