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Committee advances temporary hemp-beverage bill despite public-safety objections over proposed THC limits
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee released S4297/A5051 to extend interim rules for intoxicating hemp beverages and set per-package THC limits; industry supporters urged regulatory certainty while public‑safety and cannabis‑industry witnesses warned that proposed large‑format limits (up to 200 mg per 750‑ml bottle) risk youth access and impaired driving.
The Senate Judiciary Committee released S4297 and its Assembly counterpart (A5051), a measure that extends the interim regulatory framework for intoxicating hemp beverages and sets limits on THC content by container. Industry witnesses representing liquor retailers urged the committee to adopt the measure so stores can sell these products under clear rules, while public‑safety experts and hemp/cannabis trade groups raised concerns about proposed allowances for large bottles with high THC totals.
Supporters told the committee the bills provide needed market and enforcement clarity for small retailers facing shifting federal guidance. Ma'i Patel of the Garden State Liquor Retailers Association said the legislative extension avoids market disruption while the state finalizes long-term regulation.
Opponents, including Susanna Puntell (representing national hemp/cannabis trade groups) and the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, urged caution. Puntell argued the existing law (PL 2025 c.215) already provides a safe harbor through November and objected to a provision that would permit up to 200 mg of THC in a 750‑milliliter bottle; she said that level is far higher than limits in regulated cannabis dispensary beverages and risks accidental overconsumption and reduced tax revenue under the state’s volume tax.
Law enforcement leaders also testified that the lack of reliable roadside THC testing, insufficient drug recognition experts (DREs) and limited lab capacity make a high‑milligram retail beverage legally and operationally risky. Chief Andrew Cagliano told the committee the association “strongly opposes” the bill in its current form unless amended to restrict sales to regulated dispensaries, mandate child‑resistant packaging and fund enforcement and testing capacity.
The committee conducted a roll-call vote and released the bills with committee amendments described in the hearing record; supporters and opponents said they will continue to seek technical fixes before the bills move further.
Representative quote: “This is an extraordinarily high dosage level… These products can create foreseeable risk including impaired driving, accidental overconsumption and youth intoxication,” said Chief Cagliano.
What’s next: The bills will proceed to subsequent committees; sponsors and opponents signaled they would keep negotiating container-size, THC-limit, packaging and enforcement funding issues.
