NJ Cannabis Insider

Hemp bill signed. Governor's words: "The status quo is untenable, and this bill will put an end to it. Immediately upon my signature, it will be unlawful to sell or distribute a product intended for human consumption that contains THC in any detectable amount to a person under 21 years of age. And in thirty days, it will be at least temporarily unlawful for intoxicating hemp products to be sold or distributed in New Jersey by anyone other than cannabis businesses licensed and overseen by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. I would have preferred to sign a bill that stopped there. Late amendments to this bill in the Legislature opened the door to the sale and distribution of intoxicating hemp beverages by holders of plenary wholesale licenses and plenary retail distribution licenses for alcoholic beverages (“alcohol licensees”), in addition to licensed cannabis businesses. These amendments create a number of challenges. First, I am concerned that the bill requires the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (the “Commission”) to establish a new regulatory program for alcohol licensees selling intoxicating hemp beverages but does not provide the Commission with the resources necessary to establish the program. This omission raises questions about the Commission’s ability to stand up a program that would expand intoxicating hemp beverage sales and distribution to alcohol licensees, let alone to do so within the timelines envisioned by the bill. The bill also does not explicitly require alcohol licensees that sell or distribute intoxicating hemp products to comply with the many regulatory requirements that apply to cannabis businesses. These include, among other requirements, mandates that retail employees be trained about the products being sold, that licensees maintain labor peace agreements, and that operations are consistent with municipal ordinances, including municipal ordinances prohibiting the operation of any one or more classes of cannabis establishment, or cannabis distributors or cannabis delivery services."

Big news from #StocktonUniversity We are the first university in NJ to offer a 4 year #CannabisDegree! The degree is a Bachelor of Science in Hemp & Cannabis Business Management and it will be offered starting this fall. Thanks to Stockton's cannabis adjuncts, supportive faculty, administrators (especially the Dean of the Business School) and Dr. Sedia who developed our Minor in Cannabis Studies. Read the press release here: https://lnkd.in/gieUTP-V #CannabisBusinessDegree #NJCannabisBusinessDegree #CannabisCareers #CannabisEducation

From the Governor's office on Jeff Brown leaving the CRC: Governor Phil Murphy today announced senior-level personnel transitions within the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) and the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC). Effective May 20, 2024, Jeff Brown, who currently serves as the Executive Director of CRC, will transition to DOH to serve as the Deputy Commissioner for Health Systems. He will succeed DOH Deputy Commissioner Robin Ford, who is departing on May 10, 2024 for a new role at the New Jersey Innovation Institute. Brown joins former CRC Deputy Executive Director Kelly Anderson-Thomas, who transitioned to DOH as a Deputy Commissioner for Public Health Services earlier this spring. Christopher Riggs, Esq., the current Deputy Executive Director and former Chief Counsel at CRC, will serve as Acting Executive Director of the CRC following Brown’s departure later this month. “I’m thrilled to announce Jeff Brown as the incoming Deputy Commissioner for Health Systems and Christopher Riggs as the Acting Executive Director of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission,” said Governor Murphy. “Since its establishment, Jeff and Christopher have capably guided the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, implementing our adult use cannabis market and ensuring a diverse and equitable landscape throughout the industry. I look forward to working with them both in their new capacities within the Administration.”

I told artificial intelligence to write me a headline. Here's what it came up with for the most recent CRC meeting.

Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday signed legislation pushed by state Senate President Nick Scutari that will make it easier for a top member of the state Democratic Party to represent cannabis applicants in New Jersey. One of the highest-ranking officials who can benefit from the new law is Democratic State Committee Vice Chair Peg Schaffer, who represents cannabis clients Senate President Nicholas Scutari said Schaffer is “an example of somebody who’s trying to volunteer and are going to cut back on their career opportunities because they’re volunteering for a board.” In an industry highly dependent on local approval from municipalities, the elected officials that run towns often rely on political committees for help during election season. Schaffer, who used to be a municipal counsel in East Orange, is also the Somerset County Democratic committee chair. Assemblyman Joe Danielsen, D-Somerset, and chair of the Assembly committee that helped pass the bill, has noted Schaffer’s support in the past. “I didn’t hear any pushback," Scutari said after it passed.

Cannabis-focused summary and take of what happened in the Statehouse yesterday: Senate President passed a bill that would allow more unpaid politicians to get involved in cannabis. Vice chair of the Dem Committee among some of the beneficiaries. Keep in mind that it's chair already lobbies for cannabis, among other things. It was sponsored by the Senate President. Our statehouse team reported that Scutari has backed down temporarily from pushing for any changes to the CRC, but still wants to keep the door open. They're still punting homegrow. Murphy is on cruise control mode as he shifts key personnel to his wife for her upcoming campaign, so he's taking a hands off, no comment approach to anything controversial in cannabis.