Hemp products are being sold in places where they’re highly accessible to teens and young adults. So state legislators are working on a bill that would regulate hemp products under the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. The bill closes a loophole left under the federal 2018 Farm Bill, that leaves hemp unregulated.

“Currently these products are being sold at local convenience stores, liquor stores or gas stations, and making it more readily available to a market that shouldn’t have their hands on it,” said Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex). “Because the federal government has not regulated Delta 8 specifically, there is a loophole in the hemp law policy that allows for these products to be sold.”

The bill creates dosage limits and allows the sale of synthetic THC only to adults 21 and older, and only in cannabis dispensaries. But the alcohol and beverage industry is asking for a carve-out, to allow them access to the market through hemp beverages, that they say are being sold in other states, like Minnesota.

“They’ve had a system in place for a few years now that allows alcohol manufacturers to make these products as well, with a lot of local and state oversight,” said Eric Orlando, government affairs representative for the Brewers Guild of New Jersey. “And those products from Minnesota are being sold here in New Jersey. So I want to afford the same type of rights and privileges to New Jersey breweries”