|
Good morning — here's the regulatory picture for alcohol and hemp/THC beverages, readable in about three minutes. Every headline links to the original source.
Top Story
|
New Jersey Senate votes 37–0 to extend hemp-beverage sales window and tie it to the federal timeline
NEW JERSEY • The Marijuana Herald • Oct 22
The Senate passed S4635, sponsored by Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D), moving the deadline for licensed sales of intoxicating hemp beverages from November 13 to at least December 11, 2026 — or later if federal hemp restrictions are delayed again, with no further state action needed. Sales remain limited to businesses licensed by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control or the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, with existing THC-limit, testing and packaging rules unchanged; the bill also extends the window for authorized producers to hold intermediate hemp material above 0.3% THC during processing. The companion bill, A5604, cleared an Assembly committee 7–0 on October 15 and awaits Assembly Appropriations before a floor vote and the governor's desk.
Why it matters: If the Assembly follows, New Jersey retail and distribution partners keep hemp-beverage SKUs on shelves through at least December 11 instead of pulling product on November 13 — and the state deadline now tracks any future federal delay automatically.
|
Federal
DEA judge declines to reopen marijuana rescheduling hearing, sets final briefing dates
FEDERAL • Marijuana Moment • Oct 22
DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge Derek Julius denied opponents' request to reopen the Schedule III hearing for new testimony and document discovery, while admitting a GAO report on gaps in federal scheduling policy into the record. He allowed limited written briefing on the report's weight — initial briefs due October 29, replies November 5 — and said further briefing is disfavored; the proceeding stays paused until briefing closes.
Virginia Senate finance chair indicted on federal marijuana and racketeering charges
FEDERAL / VIRGINIA • Marijuana Moment (Virginia Mercury) • Oct 22
An eight-count federal indictment unsealed October 22 charges Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), the Senate's president pro tempore and chair of its Finance and Appropriations Committee, with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, money laundering conspiracy, honest-services fraud conspiracy and maintaining drug-involved premises; prosecutors allege the operation distributed at least 100 kilograms of marijuana and accumulated nearly $5 million over about five years. Lucas said she would not be intimidated and would not back down; Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell said she is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Around the States
Illinois details Hemp Act licensing and fees ahead of November 12 start
ILLINOIS • Illinois Dept. of Agriculture • Oct 21
IDOA's Division of Cannabis Regulation issued an informational bulletin on the Illinois Hemp Act, effective November 12, when any product over 0.4 mg total THC per container (counting delta-9, delta-8, THCA, THC-O, HHC and THC-P) becomes “cannabis” sellable only by licensed dispensaries. License fee structure: a new Hemp Product Manufacturer license runs $5,000 per two years and is required for anyone making intermediate or final hemp cannabinoid products (apply by November 9 to be licensed before the Act starts); an Industrial Hemp Processor license for non-cannabinoid products is $200 per two years; retailers and distributors of compliant hemp consumer products need no license but must meet lot testing, COA QR-code, labeling and child-resistant packaging requirements. Unlicensed cannabis sales carry penalties from a Class B misdemeanor up to a Class X felony and fines up to $200,000.
Why it matters: After November 12, Illinois retail partners can carry only ≤0.4 mg-per-container hemp products without a cannabis license — a cap most current hemp THC seltzers exceed — and any partner manufacturing hemp beverages for Illinois needs the $5,000 two-year license, with applications due by November 9.
Hemp groups sue Texas health agency over counting THCA toward the delta-9 limit
TEXAS • KXAN via Yahoo News • Oct 21
The Texas Hemp Constitutional Alliance and Tyler-based manufacturer Green Nation filed suit in Travis County against state health officials, challenging consumable-hemp rules (in effect since March 31) that count THCA as “potential” delta-9 THC toward the legal limit and bar products with detectable amounts of certain cannabinoids. The plaintiffs say the agency exceeded its statutory authority and that its fees operate as an unlawful tax, and they seek an injunction. Under the DSHS fee schedule, manufacturers pay $10,000 per facility annually (initial and renewal) and retailers $5,000 per location annually, plus $1,000 late-renewal and $125 amendment fees; the suit says costs rose roughly 4,000% for manufacturers and 3,333% for retailers over the past year.
Why it matters: Texas retail partners now carry a $5,000-per-store annual registration to sell consumable hemp, and a THCA-inclusive potency test could disqualify products that pass the federal delta-9 standard — the injunction request puts both costs and the testing method in play.
Massachusetts regulators open rewrite of cannabis product-testing rules
MASSACHUSETTS • Cannabis Control Commission • Oct 22
At its October 22 public meeting, the Cannabis Control Commission began reviewing draft regulations that would create a dedicated testing section (935 CMR 503.000) covering lab quality standards, sampling, expanded contaminant action limits, and remediation of failed products, along with updated definitions including “Beverage” and “Edibles.” Commissioners take the draft up again November 12, with public comment opening in January.
On the Radar
Oct. 28: TTB's online filing systems (Permits Online, COLAs Online, Formulas Online) will be unavailable Wednesday from 8:00 to 11:59 p.m. ET for maintenance — plan label and permit filings around the outage.
Nov. 12: The Illinois Hemp Act takes effect (0.4 mg total THC per container), and the federal provision excluding synthetic cannabinoids from the hemp definition also takes effect that day; Illinois has said it will enforce its cap regardless of the federal delay.
Dec. 11: The federal 0.4 mg THC-per-container limit for hemp products takes effect nationwide, delayed from November by the September continuing resolution; DEA rescheduling briefs land Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 in the meantime.
|