The NJ Senate passed a bill recently introduced to move certain infused or intoxicating hemp phased-in bans deadlines.
Table of Contents
S3945 passed 36-1 with no debate in the NJ Senate.
NJ Senate President Nick Scutari (D-22-Union) sponsored the hemp changes bill, which was only introduced last week. So, it passed very quickly.
NJ Hemp Changes
The NJ Senate Judiciary Committee passed a hemp bill changing details last week.
Hearing amendments removed a provision allowing hemp drink bottles up to 750 milliliters or 25 ounces, which seemed notable. But they were only going to be allowed to be 10 MG so it would be weak.
The bill requires that intoxicating hemp beverages sold by ABC or CRC licensees containing more than 10 mg of THC per container have resealable packaging.
It also extends compliance deadlines around hemp drinks from April 13 to May 31, 2026.
The bill also repeals the requirement that ABC licensees store or display intoxicating hemp beverages in a place inaccessible to customers.
The bill also allows hemp producers to exceed the 0.3 percent THC limit. But only if the material is a hemp-derived extract being manufactured into a product that meets the legal THC limits. That ends November 13, 2026.
This will lead to huge disruptions by November.
The November 13th deadline ending sales by liquor stores remains in place.
Hemp Advocates Fight to Protect CBD Medicine
During the committee hearing, a Committee Aide said certain people had signed up in favor of the bill and opposed it. But he did not read the names into the record, a common practice during legislative hearings.
He said people could request them via the Open Public Records Act (OPRA).
Unfortunately, that does not always work. It seemed like a reflection of the shady nature of Jersey.
Farmer and advocate Thomas Norcia of Grow Works and the NJ Hemp Growers Association wanted further amendments to the bill.
“I’m licensed by the Department of Agriculture to grow and manufacture hemp. We’re in favor of this bill… It gives another 30 days to hold … our plants. But there’s no pathway in this to sell our product at all. So, what do I do?” Norcia asked.
“We have a license that says one thing, and this bill does something totally different,” he added.
Norcia complained that NJ Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (D-29-Essex) said it wouldn’t affect hemp farmers in November during an intoxicating hemp ban bill hearing.*
“But we’re here because it does!” he exclaimed.
“I got something from the CRC that says we can’t sell our product and we have to shut our website down,” he noted. “But they’re telling me I can sell it out of state!”
Norcia wanted to push the hemp flower and oil ban from April 13th deadline to November.
“None of our products are psychoactive…,” he noted. “The stuff that they’re really banning and stopping is coming from over state lines.”
“Scutari, I’ve been reaching out to his office for 2 years! He will not respond to us! The Growers Association or me personally!” Norcia exclaimed.
Heady NJ hears Scutari is also indifferent to cannabis home gardening legalization advocates.
NJ Hemp Changes Concerns
Kristen Gooede of Trichome Analytical said her lab is licensed by both the Department of Agriculture and the CRC to test hemp and cannabis. She endorsed the bill.
However, Gooede had an issue with label details.
“The CRC defines acceptable THC variation from lab testing as 10 percent. So, if a product is labeled 5 mg, it can test between 4.5 and 5.5 mg. This is a standard acceptable tolerance level,” she explained.
Gooede also asked them to work on a transition plan for the NJ hemp licenses into the NJ cannabis market ahead of the ultimate intoxicating hemp ban date of November 13, 2026.
“I am for the bill,” said Chief Vincent Mann, Turtle Clan Chief of the local Ramapough Lenape Nation.
“I’m conflicted here. We understand that there will be hemp products that will be allowed to be sold until November… when the federal ban kicks in…,” he added.
Mann noted how it will hurt his business.
“We rely on that to pay for our vehicle payments,” he explained.
Mann said the allowed product would be too weak to help patients.
“We’re always finding out that there’s a new bill. We’re never spoken to,” he added.
However, “the things that changed are a benefit to us,” Mann noted.
“I believe the state legislature needs to pump the brakes and not be forcing something down the throats of 9 million people!” he exclaimed.
“…Anybody who relies on full-spectrum CBD, CBG, or hemp-derived products now has to travel out of state to get it. Because the CRC businesses do not have CBD!” Norcia explained.
The bill passed 10-0-1 with Senator Michael Testa (R-1-Cumberland) abstaining
NJ Assembly Hemp Changes Bill
The bill also passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee with minimum discussion.
A 4791 was sponsored by Robert Karabinchak (D-18-Middlesex) and Linda Carter (D-22-Union).
