New Jersey’s hemp industry is navigating a period of significant upheaval following two major court rulings in October 2024, which disrupted the sale of intoxicating hemp products like delta-8 and THC seltzers. On October 12, a federal judge struck down parts of the state’s new hemp law, citing violations of federal law. This ruling has left the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) responsible for drafting new rules, a process expected to take several months, leaving the industry in a state of confusion and regulatory limbo.
Joshua S. Bauchner, Chair of the Cannabis, Hemp & Psychedelics Practice Group at Mandelbaum Barrett PC, expressed concerns in The Asbury Park Press about the CRC’s ability to manage this added responsibility. He noted, “What we have now is that the whole hemp industry is going to be subject to the CRC,” highlighting the commission’s ongoing struggles with regulating the cannabis sector, which could lead to further delays.
In the New Jersey Monitor, Bauchner remained cautiously optimistic, believing municipalities would avoid aggressive enforcement, focusing only on the ban of sales to minors. “I’m cautiously optimistic that, for the most part, everyone’s just going to take a big, deep breath and step aside from anything that’s unrelated to the prohibited sales to minors,” he said, adding that for many of his clients, it’s “business as usual,” as they continue to adhere strictly to age restrictions.
As the state works to clarify its hemp regulations, businesses are left waiting for clearer guidelines, with many facing uncertainty about the future.
Read the Asbury Park Press article here, and the NJ Monitor article here.