Governor Phil Murphy (D) signed into law an intoxicating hemp sales phased-in ban along with other cannabis bills.
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He signed bills adding sickle cell anemia as a medical cannabis condition and a cannabis worker labor protection law as well.
New Intoxicating Hemp Law
The anti-intoxicating hemp law is known as “SCS for S-4509/A-6295 (Ruiz, Scutari/Karabinchak). “Creates regulatory scheme, in line with federal law, on sale of certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products; repeals law concerning intoxicating hemp.”
Notably, it phases out all intoxicating hemp sales by gas stations, convenience stores, smoke shops, and liquor stores by Thanksgiving 2026 on Nov. 13th.
That includes intoxicating hemp beverage sales at liquor stores. Initially it seemed they’d be exempted.
Some significant parts of the phase-in take place in April ahead of 4/20/2026.
A lot of independent dispensaries feel they are competing against shady smoke shop and other store owners.
They feel it is an unfair competition since they have to spend a lot of time and money following the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) rules. In contrast, smoke shops and others seem to get away with a lot.
Cannabis Product Issues
A lot of pro-dispensary moderate advocates are very eager for the fairly reasonable demands of sales to only those who are 21 and older, for example. Several also get passionate about detailed labels on what is being purchased.
In this new era of state cannabis legalization, the terpenes and the cannabinoids are good to know since they can help you figure out what is the best Over The Counter (OTC) cannabis medicine for your specific issues.
Harvest and Expiration dates are also good to know when determining the quality of flower as well.
NJ Hemp Farmer Protection
The law says the bill is not designed to prohibit “alter or otherwise affect the lawful activities of a hemp producer or its agent as authorized by the Department of Agriculture to cultivate, handle, or process hemp or hemp-derived cannabinoid products, pursuant to the “New Jersey Hemp Farming Act.”
It notes they are “subject to the department’s statutory or regulatory authority, established under that act, and include, but are not limited to, the cultivation, handling, and processing by such producers and agents of hemp that conforms to pre- and post-harvest THC content limits.”
Legal NJ Hemp farmers have been very worried about how this will negatively impact their humble operations. Thus, they have been passionately advocating.
“Nearly two years ago, this issue came to my attention after community members and law enforcement raised concerns that intoxicating hemp products were widely accessible to children and adults with little oversight. With the signing of this bill today, we are finally putting common-sense safeguards in place to protect public health,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz (D-29-Essex/Hudson). “For too long, these products have been within arm’s reach of children.”
“Since New Jersey legalized cannabis, we have regulated the market responsibly. Yet unlicensed and untested products like intoxicating hemp continue to be sold due to a federal loophole,” said Senate President Scutari (D-22-Union/Somerset). “Folding intoxicating hemp into our cannabis industry regulations is a smart move for the future of the market and the safety of consumers. Phasing these standards in over the next few months will ensure New Jersey is sufficiently prepared once the new federal rules take effect.”
Sickle Cell Anemia and Cannabis Labor Bills Signed
PM also signed into law A-913/S-2392 (Reynolds-Jackson, Spearman, Atkins/Turner, McKnight) “Authorizes medical cannabis for treatment of sickle cell anemia.”
So now, sickle cell anemia can count if you want to get a medical cannabis card.
In addition, A-4182/S-3139 (DeAngelo, Atkins, Quijano/Singleton, Beach) “concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis employees” also passed. It is designed to help cultivation workers.
