TRENTON, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Intoxicating hemp products come in many forms, and state lawmakers are advancing legislation that would ban the sale of most of them. However, an amendment would allow for some beverages derived from hemp to be sold at liquor stores.
Many of the products come in edible form, packaged very similarly to popular snacks like Doritos. Those arguing in favor of the ban say these are clearly marketed to kids and are largely untested and totally unregulated, being sold as Delta8 THC, which isn’t quite the same as dispensary-sold weed.
Bill Caruso is a cannabis lobbyist who says getting these products off the shelves at gas stations and vape shops is a great thing, but liquor stores should not be given a loophole.
“Do the right thing here. Pass the bill in front of you as is and work on the separate legislation to figure out how the liquor industry comes into the cannabis world to sell THC properly tested, safe, regulated and without the threat of being sold to kids.”
The bill puts those products under the oversight of state cannabis regulators.
This bill restricts the sale of many products to licensed dispensaries, though liquor stores could still sell the beverages to adults 21 and over.
The CEO of a Massachusetts based THC beverage company says they are regulated there, safe for adult consumption, and should be allowed in liquor stores.
Some opposed to the bill say the regulations go too far by including some CBD products that don’t get you high.
Eric Orlando with the Brewers Guild of New Jersey says breweries should be allowed to make THC-infused beverages, but the legislation doesn’t address that issue — “thereby giving out of state producers, particularly breweries from other states, an advantage over New Jersey breweries in this space.”
The bill passed the senate budget committee vote with those liquor store amendments included, though lawmakers said there could be more changes before it’s up for a full vote.