SB168 would limit how long cannabis administrative holds can last and raise packaging limits to match purchase caps

State Senator Rochelle Wynne presented Senate Bill 168 to the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, asking the committee to adopt two primary changes: (1) require the Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) to adopt procedures and limits for administrative holds placed on cannabis products in the seed‑to‑sale system; and (2) increase statutory product packaging limits to align with last session’s increase in daily purchase limits.

Wynne described administrative holds as an investigatory pause during which products are frozen in the tracking system and cannot be sold or transferred; she said holds can lock millions of dollars of product in storage, sometimes for months, and that the legislation aims to balance regulator authority with due process so product not posing a safety hazard does not expire during extended holds.

Under the bill language and the sponsor’s proposed, committee‑friendly amendments, the CCB would be required to adopt regulations that specify procedures for issuing and lifting administrative holds. The hold would terminate automatically within 14 days unless the board, after notice and a hearing, extends the hold; the sponsor said she was discussing whether a longer automatic period (for example, 30 days) would be appropriate to accommodate open‑meeting and notice requirements. The bill clarifies that holds must be issued for failure to satisfy statutory requirements or a finding that the product poses a substantial hazard to public health.

SB168 also revises several packaging limits to reflect higher statutory daily purchase caps adopted in the prior session: for example, workable language in the amendment increases an ounce limits for usable cannabis and raises concentration limits for infused products and topicals. The sponsor presented a separate amendment clarifying that infused pre‑rolls should be treated as flower for testing and packaging calculations. Another technical amendment replaces the term “disturb” with “distribute” where the bill restricts movement of held product.

Industry groups testified in support. Will Adler (Green Thumb Industries), Blake Martin (Nevada Cannabis Association), Deep Roots Harvest, Thrive Cannabis Marketplace and other licensees said the bill would bring consistency and predictability, prevent product from expiring after lengthy holds and align packaging limits with consumer demand. Several operators described real cases where administrative holds left products unusable or destroyed while investigations continued.

Opposition and neutral testimony included patient advocates and several individuals who urged stronger patient protections and requested additional labeling and disclosure (for example, indicating whether plant material was irradiated prior to packaging) and recommended Health and Human Services involvement in program rules affecting medical patients. The Coalition for Patient Rights and individual callers said they were not opposed to the bill’s core aims but seek language additions to protect patients, ensure access and clarify fee and supply impacts for medical users.

Senator Wynne said she would continue discussions with stakeholders on the 14‑day window, suspected open‑meeting constraints and additional technical clarifications; the CCB’s rulemaking would be subject to the Administrative Procedure Act and review by the Legislative Commission, she said. The committee collected testimony and exhibits for the record and did not take a final vote on SB168 at the hearing.