On Monday, S-3235/A-4461 were both favorably reported out of committee in both houses. This legislation would allow liquor stores to sell intoxicating hemp drinks without a cannabis license and tasks the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to regulate the sale of all hemp and cannabis products and put new regulations in place for retailers.
The Department of Agriculture would continue to regulate the cultivation of hemp, while the Attorney General’s office would enforce the law against those selling hemp products without a license, similar to cannabis.
The sale of such intoxicating hemp drinks is currently unregulated. Under the legislation, those sales would be prohibited until the CRC establishes regulations. The CRC would have one year from the date the legislation is signed to promulgate these regulations. Once the CRC adopts rules, liquor stores would be able to apply to the CRC to sell the products. The approval process for liquor stores would be separate from the usual cannabis licensure process and would not include requirements such as obtaining local approval.
Both bills could be voted on later this week.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.