Get Involved: New Jersey Legislative Action – 2026
New Jersey currently maintains one of the more restrictive hemp frameworks in the country. Under existing law, many hemp-derived cannabinoid products are prohibited, including products containing certain synthesized cannabinoids and final hemp-derived cannabinoid products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. Current law also permits intoxicating hemp beverages to continue being sold through certain licensed alcohol and cannabis businesses until November 13, 2026, subject to serving size, testing, labeling, and retail restrictions.
A5051 has now passed the House, and companion legislation, S4297, has been introduced in the Senate. The legislation would revise portions of New Jersey’s existing framework rather than establish an entirely new system.
As a reminder, the legislation would:
- extend certain May 31, 2026 implementation deadlines related to hemp processing and intoxicating hemp beverages until November 13, 2026,
- revise permitted container formats for intoxicating hemp beverages by allowing:
- cans containing up to 5 milligrams of THC per serving and 10 milligrams per container, and
- resealable 750 mL bottles containing up to 40 servings of 5 milligrams each, or 200 milligrams total THC per bottle,
- remove certain requirements that intoxicating hemp beverages be stored behind counters or otherwise inaccessible to consumers,
- allow licensed alcohol establishments to display intoxicating hemp beverages in customer-accessible areas if certain monitoring, signage, and age-verification requirements are met,
- require customers purchasing intoxicating hemp beverages to be informed of appropriate serving sizes,
- allow a 10 percent variance in laboratory testing results for cannabinoid concentrations,
- and expand the ability of certain alcohol license holders to sell intoxicating hemp beverages for off-premises consumption.
The legislation maintains New Jersey’s existing restrictions on many non-beverage hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including the State’s current THC limits applicable to those products.
New Jersey Residents: Take Action: Contact state lawmakers and urge them to support A5051 / S4297 and the reasonable improvements the legislation makes to the hemp beverage framework. At the same time, urge lawmakers to continue pursuing broader, science-based regulatory pathways for all hemp-derived cannabinoid products rather than maintaining overly restrictive THC limits and product classifications that effectively prohibit much of the existing hemp marketplace.
