New Jersey Senator Files Bill to Allow Liquor Stores to Sell Low-Dose THC Beverages
- New Jersey State Senator Joseph Lagana introduced Senate Bill 4452 to allow liquor stores to sell low-dose THC beverages.
- The bill defines low-dose THC beverages as liquid or mixable cannabis products with less than 10 milligrams of THC per container, made by licensed Class 2 Cannabis Manufacturers.
- Sales restrictions include mandatory age verification (21+), a purchase limit of 24 containers per transaction, and a ban on vending machine sales.
- The bill exempts liquor stores from additional regulations by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control but subjects violators to civil penalties; the measure is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
A New Jersey lawmaker filed legislation yesterday that would allow liquor stores to sell low-dose THC beverages.
Senate Bill 4452, filed by State Senator Joseph Lagana (D), was introduced June 15 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The measure would allow liquor stores to sell beverages containing THC, creating a new retail pathway for low-dose cannabis drinks in the state.
Under the bill, a “low dose THC beverage” would be defined as either a liquid consumable cannabis product or a powder or gel that can be mixed with water to create a liquid consumable cannabis product. To qualify, the product would need to be manufactured by a Class 2 Cannabis Manufacturer and contain less than 10 milligrams of THC per container, unless the Cannabis Regulatory Commission sets a higher limit.
The legislation would place several restrictions on sales. Purchasers would be required to provide identification, and sales would be limited to customers who are at least 21 years old. Retailers would also be limited to selling no more than 24 containers to a single purchaser in one transaction.
The proposal would also prohibit low-dose THC beverages from being sold through vending machines. Liquor stores that sell the products would be required to actively monitor where they are stored or displayed and confirm the customer’s age at the point of sale.
The bill states that liquor stores would not be required to comply with any additional requirements that may be established by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, in consultation with the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Businesses that violate the bill’s provisions would be subject to civil penalties.
The measure remains pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.