Media Report: New Jersey liquor stores could sell hemp drinks under fast-moving hemp bill

Liquor stores would be able to sell intoxicating hemp drinks without a cannabis license under changes made to a closely-watched regulation bill.

The question of how to address the fast-growing hemp beverage industry has been a large sticking point in the debate over how the state should regulate intoxicating hemp products, which have exploded in popularity in recent years.

The bill amended by Assembly and Senate committees on Monday would have the Cannabis Regulatory Commission regulate the sale of intoxicating hemp products.

Context: The federal 2018 farm bill permitted the sale of hemp on the condition that it have less than .3 percent THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Businesses have been able to use those guidelines to sell hemp products that give a similar intoxicating experience as cannabis, although the hemp products are currently out of the purview of the state’s cannabis regulators.

State lawmakers have pushed the new legislation amid pushback to unregulated intoxicating hemp sold at gas stations and convenience stores.

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