CRC approval expands NJ's edible cannabis products

Cannabis-infused drinks, candies and pastry-style treats are now officially allowed in New Jersey.

After introducing a proposed framework last year that would relax restrictions on edibles, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission signed off on the rules during its Sept. 19 meeting.

Under the approved guidelines, the state now allows for the sale of an expanded group of ingestible cannabis products including baked goods, chocolates, butters, jams and drinks in the medicinal and recreational markets.

In addition, ingestible products can only be shelf-stable, ready-to-use items that do not require cooking, baking or storage in sterile environments. They must also have clearly displayed nutrition information, warning labels and expiration dates, along with child-resistant packaging that doesn’t have any imagery or names that could pique kids’ interest.

The guidelines prohibit items from containing alcohol or nicotine. They must be ready to consume and manufactured by staff trained in food safety.

Additionally, edibles will be limited to 10 milligrams of THC per serving, while drinks will be capped at 5 milligrams.

Responsible snacking

As edibles become a popular cannabis option for consumers who don’t want to inhale smoke or find it more discreet, easy and convenient, the state has said it wants to establish clear guidelines for responsible production labeling and sale.

Although the proposal received preliminarily approval in October 2023, it was subject to a 60-day public comment period that ran through mid-December 2023.

While the CRC worked to finalize regulations, it granted waivers letting manufacturers begin production to meet expected demand.

Among the recipients of a waiver was ButACake, a Jersey City-based canna-bakery that launched New Jersey’s first legal cannabis-infused brownie earlier this year.

Coming soon: Read about Fairfield-based cannabis chocolate business Inclusion Gourmet in the Sept. 23, 2024, issue of NJBIZ.

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