Lawmakers push compliance deadline to May 31 while maintaining November sales cutoff
Trenton, NJ – New Jersey lawmakers are moving to delay key compliance deadlines for hemp beverage regulations, approving amendments to a bill that adjusts how intoxicating hemp products are sold and regulated across the state.
Assembly Bill 4791, advanced by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on March 19, extends the deadline for businesses to comply with new rules governing intoxicating hemp beverages from April 13 to May 31. The bill does not change a previously set November 13 deadline that will end sales of such products by certain alcohol license holders.
The legislation modifies existing restrictions tied to THC content, licensing, and product handling, while giving producers and retailers additional time to meet regulatory requirements.
Compliance deadlines extended under amended bill
According to the committee statement, “The bill extends the compliance deadlines on the sale of intoxicating hemp beverages by ABC and CRC licensees from April 13, 2026 to May 31, 2026.” However, officials noted, “the November 13, 2026 deadline ending sales by ABC licensees remains in place.”
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Key Points
- Compliance deadline for hemp beverage sales pushed to May 31, 2026
- THC limits and licensing rules for intoxicating hemp products remain unchanged
- November 13 deadline to end sales by alcohol licensees still in effect
Under current law, intoxicating hemp beverages are limited to five milligrams of total THC per serving and 10 milligrams per container. Sales are restricted to licensees regulated by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control or the Cannabis Regulatory Commission.
The amended bill also allows certain hemp producers to temporarily exceed the 0.3 percent THC concentration limit if the material is an intermediate extract still being processed into a compliant final product.
Amendments clarify rules for producers and agents
Lawmakers made several adjustments to clarify how the law applies. The committee stated it amended the bill to “clarify that the provisions applicable to hemp producers include their agents” and to revise THC exemption timelines for producers.
Additional amendments removed proposed changes to serving and container size limits and aligned compliance deadlines across the industry.
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The bill does not require a fiscal note, meaning it is not expected to have a significant financial impact on the state budget as it moves through the legislative process.
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