The NJ Legislature is ramming through a THC hemp seltzer drinks bill to extend the ban deadline from November to December.
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The NJ Senate passed S 4635 “Aligns State restrictions on sale of hemp products and intoxicating hemp beverages with federal law.” They did so without debate or speeches, quickly and unanimously, 37-0.
It was sponsored by cannabis industry champion and cannabis home gardening adversary NJ Senate President Nick Scutari (D-22-Union, Somerset).
NJ Assembly Committee Passes Hemp Drinks Bill Extension Quickly
The NJ Assembly Appropriations Committee also passed A 5604 “Aligns State restrictions on sale of hemp products and intoxicating hemp beverages with federal law” on the same day.
It had previously passed the NJ Assembly State and Local Government Committee.
NJ Cannabis Trade Association (NJCTA) Executive Director Todd Johnson was said to oppose the bill.
“The NJCTA supports appropriate consumer protection related to intoxicating cannabis products across the State. We support thoughtful legislation of intoxicating hemp products in particular,” he explained.
“This is, by my account, the 4th or 5th time in the past 2 years that the legislature has moved swiftly to provide statutory relief or flexibility to the alcohol and unregulated hemp industries,” Johnson argued. “4 or 5 amendments, adjustments and deadline extensions for industries that frankly are not subject to the same financial and regulatory burdens that New Jersey’s licensed cannabis businesses operate under every single day!”
NJ Cannabis Industry Lamentation
“We have not seen the same meaningful, necessary, and swift legislative action as we’ve seen here with liquor stores and hemp!” he exclaimed.
“The legislature is a good partner to our industry… the legal cannabis industry seems to have fallen by the wayside. All while we have created 12,000 new jobs, over 400 brand new licensed businesses and generated over $270 million in tax revenue … with over $40 million of those tax dollars going directly to local municipalities,” Johnson noted.
He lamented the high federal tax rate due to federal marijuana prohibition.
“They carry burdensome loans… They are operating a SEEF Fee Structure, Social Equity Excise Fee structure that can be raised by the CRC with no legislative vote, no cap and less than 7 days’ notice…,” Johnson argued.
He wanted the legislature to change that.
“A month extension of a federal ban is not worth fighting… Recognize the disparity in which urgency is applied,” Johnson argued. “When liquor needs relief this legislature acts….”
No alcohol or hemp lobbyist felt the need to bother with testifying.
NJ Assembly Appropriations Committee passed the hemp seltzer ban extension 13-0, with two not voting, without further comment or speeches.
It was sponsored by Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak (D-18-Middlesex).
