State Legislative Watch: Hemp‑Related Bills in Connecticut, Delaware, and New Jersey
The US Hemp Roundtable continues to track state‑level activity as legislatures wrap up their sessions. This week the organization is monitoring three states where hemp‑related measures are still pending: Connecticut, Delaware, and New Jersey. Below is a concise, fact‑checked overview of each bill, its key provisions, and the Roundtable’s current stance.
Connecticut – House Bill 5350
House Bill 5350 passed both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly and now awaits action by Governor Ned Lamont (D). The legislation seeks to modernize the state’s cannabis and hemp legal framework by:
- Incorporating high‑THC hemp into the definition of “cannabis,” while explicitly exempting “compliant hemp” that contains ≤ 0.3 % total THC by dry weight.
- Setting THC limits for infused beverages at 5 mg per container for products sold under a liquor license and 10 mg per container for those sold under a cannabis license.
- Creating a distinct category for high‑THC beverages that may only be sold out‑of‑state.
- Establishing a comprehensive regulatory regime for infused beverages, covering licensing, product testing, labeling, distribution, fees, age verification, and on‑premises consumption permits.
The US Hemp Roundtable has taken a neutral position on HB 5350, stating that it will continue to monitor the bill’s progress through the governor’s desk and any subsequent regulatory rulemaking.
Delaware – House Bill 401 and House Bill 373
Delaware lawmakers have introduced two distinct pieces of legislation that address hemp‑derived cannabinoid products.
House Bill 401 – Delaware Hemp Regulation Act
Filed earlier this month, HB 401 is currently before the House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee. The bill would:
- Create a new licensing structure housed within the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner.
- Restrict the sale of hemp‑derived cannabinoid products to businesses already licensed as marijuana retailers, effectively excluding gas stations, grocery stores, and convenience stores.
- Permit hemp‑derived beverages containing up to 10 mg of THC per serving, with a separate niche for these drinks outside the broader regulatory framework.
- Impose age‑verification requirements, prohibit packaging aimed at children, mandate extensive product testing, and levy a 6 % excise tax on hemp‑derived cannabinoid sales.
The US Hemp Roundtable neither supports nor opposes HB 401 but is tracking its committee deliberations.
House Bill 373 – Additional Tax and Operational Measures
Also under review by the House Appropriations Committee, HB 373 would allow beverages with up to 10 mg of THC per container and includes product testing, labeling, and age‑restriction provisions. However, it also proposes additional taxes, fees, and operational burdens on businesses.
In response, the Roundtable is urging Delaware residents to visit the Delaware Action Center and contact lawmakers to request the bill’s defeat.
New Jersey – Assembly Bill 5051
New Jersey maintains one of the more restrictive hemp environments in the nation, limiting most hemp‑derived cannabinoid products to ≤ 0.4 mg of total THC per container. Intoxicating hemp beverages remain permissible for sale through liquor and cannabis licensees until November 13, 2026, when new federal restrictions on hemp‑derived intoxicating cannabinoids are set to take effect.
Assembly Bill 5051 seeks to amend the existing framework by:
- Extending the current May 31 deadline for hemp processing and intoxicating hemp beverage sales to November 13, aligning the state timeline with the forthcoming federal rule.
- Allowing cans with up to 5 mg of THC per serving (10 mg per container) and resealable 750 mL bottles containing up to 40 servings of 5 mg each, or a total of 200 mg THC per bottle.
- Removing the requirement that intoxicating hemp beverages be stored behind counters or otherwise inaccessible, permitting liquor licensees to display these products in customer‑accessible areas provided they meet monitoring, signage, and age‑verification standards.
- Mandating that purchasers be informed of appropriate serving sizes and expanding the ability of certain alcohol license holders to sell intoxicating hemp beverages for off‑premises consumption.
- Retaining the existing strict THC limits for non‑beverage hemp‑derived cannabinoid products.
The US Hemp Roundtable has taken a neutral stance on AB 5051, noting that it will continue to monitor the bill’s progress through the New Jersey Legislature.
For the original reporting on these developments, see the source article: Here.
