INDUSTRY UPDATES

September 20, 2024

Updates in California, Missouri, New Jersey, and South Carolina

Check out the latest legislative updates across the states and take action today!

California

Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom submitted his “emergency” regulation proposals, opening the door for public comments on his hemp-killing attempts. As we shared with you earlier, these proposals have no basis in sound policy. The U.S. Hemp Roundtable has filed comments relaying the illegal nature of these proposals and encouraged others to do the same. We hope that the Office of Administrative will agree with our convincing case. If not, then we are ready to go to court – and to win.

Missouri

Hemp sales are back in Missouri! The excellent work of our friends at the Missouri Hemp Trade Association, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has declared what we already know – hemp is legal! While hemp was endangered by a political battle, this ruling delivers a huge win to small businesses and hemp farmers throughout the Show-Me State.

New Jersey

As we feared, New Jersey Governor’s signed S3235. The new law limits hemp products to 0.3% total THC, 0.5mg of total THC per serving, and 2.5mg of total THC per package. A hemp product that exceeds any of the limits is deemed intoxicating, is classified as cannabis, and may only be sold in a licensed dispensary. Notably, hemp products with any detectable amount of THC are restricted to persons 21 or older, whether intoxicating or not. Liquor licensed stores may be approved by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to sell intoxicating beverage products but must cease their sales until becoming approved. Beverage products will be subject to additional regulations to be promulgated by the CRC. Some sections of the new law, including the age restriction, took effect immediately, while other provisions don’t go into effect for 180 days.

South Carolina

Along with this week’s victory in Missouri, there’s good news in South Carolina. The Attorney General’s office issued a formal legal opinion concluding that non-alcoholic hemp beverages with 0.3% or less delta-9 THC are “expressly” legal under federal law and South Carolina law. The legal opinion also confirms that there are no restrictions under South Carolina law beyond the 0.3% delta-9 THC concentration limit. This should clarify any remaining doubt about the legality of hemp-derived products in the Palmetto State.

Visit our State Action Center to see active campaigns across the country!

State Action Center

Check out the latest hemp and CBD updates from across the states!