A bill recently signed by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will see intoxicating hemp-based products placed under the same regulatory controls as cannabis or alcohol products. The sale of intoxicating hemp-based products is now prohibited to customers under the age of 21. Even as Governor Murphy conceded some of the bill’s flaws, the danger of underage consumers accessing these products outweighed any concerns. Read on for more about the latest in New Jersey’s cannabis culture wars.
What This Means
The new law means that ‘intoxicating hemp’ products will now come under the purview of the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission and can only be sold by licensed dispensaries or at liquor stores. This change comes as many criticized the widespread availability of hemp products with no regulation. Hemp products are currently found in many convenience stores, grocery stores, and other retail locations that are not age-restricted.
“The main intent I think we would all agree to is that there is a phenomenal amount of unregulated, unlicensed, untested cannabis products on gas station shelves, convenience store shelves, and they don’t go through any regulated process. Teens have access to this, and this bill attempts to capture that to prevent that,” said Scott Rudder of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association in a statement.
Read More: New Dispensary, Village Hoboken, Opening This Month on Washington Street
The threshold for regulating products per the new bill is “total THC greater than 0.5 milligrams per serving 4 or 2.5 milligrams per package.” Critics say that that limit is so low that for a user to experience ‘intoxicating effects’ would require them to ingest large quantities of the product.
The bill was signed on September 12th, and immediately took effect, banning the sale of intoxicating hemp products to people under the age of 21. On October 12th, it will be temporarily unlawful to sell intoxicating hemp products anywhere but a cannabis business licensed by the Cannabis Regulatory Board.
Unanswered Questions
New Jersey has been a leader in hemp production since 2019 when the state enacted the New Jersey Hemp Farming Act. New Jersey’s hemp growing program was one of three states with similar programs to be approved by the US Department of Agriculture.
Both hemp and marijuana are grown from cannabis plants. The only difference is that hemp has 0.3% or less THC content, while marijuana has anything above that. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the intoxicating chemical or chemicals in the cannabis plant.
Hemp can be used to produce things like textiles, animal feed, and paper, and the plant itself is a source of nutrition. Hemp seeds are considered a superfood because they are high in fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
In addition to a murky future for the agricultural aspect of hemp production, many are concerned about how this law will be enforced. While the law specifies what products will be regulated and by what entity, no additional resources have been allocated to that effort. In his remarks upon signing the bill, Governor Murphy highlighted this discrepancy. “I am concerned that the bill requires the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (the “Commission”) to establish a new regulatory program for alcohol licensees selling intoxicating hemp beverages but does not provide the Commission with the resources necessary to establish the program. This omission raises questions about the Commission’s ability to stand up a program that would expand intoxicating hemp beverage sales and distribution to alcohol licensees, let alone to do so within the timelines envisioned by the bill.”
Governor Murphy called out other flaws in the bill, citing the rush of late amendments for the confusion about the bill’s specifics. In addition to the increased regulatory efforts required, two other points of confusion exist. First, whether the law will apply to all hemp-based products or merely those produced within New Jersey. Second, a lack of clarity in terms of what role licensed alcohol retailers will play in the new schema. Liquor license holders can sell the products but they would also have to register with the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. But again, no additional resources have been designated to train and manage new entrants.
Despite these criticisms, Governor Murphy said that he felt it would be better to sign the bill into law and work out the details to put a stop to the sale of unregulated products to minors. “Unlike many issues, the status quo poses an immediate risk to health and safety, as these unregulated intoxicating hemp products are widely available to minors. Because the bill would address this present danger, I have concluded that the wiser course is to sign the bill now and commit to working with the Legislature to address the technical issues and other challenges in separate legislation.”
See More: An Architect’s Thoughts on Cannabis Businesses in the Community
Another layer to the confusion in all of this is that not every city in New Jersey permits the sale of cannabis. Companies that sell intoxicating hemp-based products in New Jersey will now have to reimagine their retail plans in the state.
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Weehawken Pool Memberships Now Open to All New Jersey Residents
While we patiently wait for summer here in Hudson County, the Weehawken Township Pool Complex is wasting no time. The public pool, located at 2 Port Imperial Boulevard in Weehawken, is getting ready for the warmer days ahead and has officially released its 2025 season membership details for all New Jersey residents this week (and rumor has it, spots sell out fast). Read on for everything we know so far and how to register for a membership at the Weehawken Township Pool Complex in New Jersey.
2025 Information
The Weehawken Township Pool Complex will re-open just in time for Memorial Day Weekend this year and pool-goers can make a splash as early as May 24th, 2025. After MDW, the pool will only be open on weekends throughout June. The full pool season will begin on June 24th, 2025 with an extended schedule after schools officially close for summer break. Membership is open to all New Jersey residents — registration can be done here.
Read More: Public Pools in Hudson County to Enjoy This Summer
Pool Hours
- Weekdays (starting June 24th, 2025)
- 6AM-8AM: Lap Swim
- 8AM-10AM: Swim Lessons
- 10AM-8PM: General Hours
- Weekends (starting May 24th, 2025)
- 7AM-9AM: Lap Swim
- 10AM-8PM: General Hours
Memberships + Pricing
Annual Membership for Weehawken Residents
- $125 for the adult primary
- Plus $75 per adult in household
- Children under 17 admitted for free when accompanied by adult member
Annual Membership for Non-Residents
- $250 for the adult primary
- Plus $150 per adult in household
- Children under 17 admitted for free when accompanied by adult member
Day Passes
Day passes are non-refundable, must be pre-purchased online, and cannot be purchased in-person. Day passes also are limited to weekdays only and cannot be used on weekends or holidays. Regardless of residency, day passes will be $40 per adult and $20 per child. Day passes will be available starting on June 25th, 2025 and can be used between 10AM-8PM.
Background on the Weehawken Pool
Weehawken’s municipal swimming pool (aka the Weehawken Township Pool Complex) opened in the summer of 2021. The $10.5 million complex has views of the NYC skyline, a water slide, a lap pool, splash pads, and more. The pool formerly only permitted Weehawken residents to become pool members, but after various efforts from surrounding towns without public pools, the conversation escalated and the state got involved.
See More: Where to Find Indoor Pools + Aquatics Programs in North Jersey
The pool had been built using some state funding provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Acres Program, and back in June, the DEP claimed it wasn’t right for Weehawken to restrict membership after having used state funding. The DEP even withheld $4 million in Green Acres funds for ongoing projects at the Waterfront Park until Weehawken opened its membership to non-residents, per TapInto. It wasn't until August of 2022 that the pool would officially start permitting out-of-town residents to use the outdoor pool. Now, the Weehawken Pool is open to all New Jersey residents.
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