This bill proposes the establishment of the Division of State Cannabis Oversight, Regulation, and Enforcement (SCORE) within the Department of Law and Public Safety, which will take over the regulatory responsibilities for medical and personal use cannabis from the existing Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC). The CRC will be abolished, and its functions, powers, and duties will be transferred to SCORE. The bill stipulates that the current Chair of the CRC will serve as the first Director of SCORE until a successor is appointed by the Governor. Additionally, employees from the CRC and the Office of Minority, Disabled Veterans, and Women Cannabis Business Development will be transferred to the new division. The bill also introduces significant changes to cannabis regulatory enforcement, granting SCORE explicit authority to take enforcement actions against unlicensed cannabis businesses and expanding the Alcoholic Beverage Control Enforcement Bureau to include cannabis regulatory enforcement, renaming it the Bureau of Alcohol and Cannabis Enforcement (BACE).

Key amendments include the removal of references to the previous Cannabis Regulatory Commission and the introduction of the new division, which will oversee the enforcement of cannabis laws. The bill outlines specific penalties for licensees who violate age restrictions, including fines and potential license revocation, and establishes defenses for licensees who can demonstrate that they acted in good faith. Furthermore, the bill modifies existing laws regarding the possession and carrying of firearms, clarifying exemptions for law enforcement and public safety personnel, and introduces new regulations for the sale and distribution of intoxicating hemp beverages. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the regulatory framework surrounding cannabis in New Jersey while ensuring compliance with age restrictions and public safety standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:170-51.13, 2C:35-10, 2C:58-4.6, 4:28-8, 24:6I-3, 24:6I-4, 24:6I-5.1, 24:6I-5.3, 24:6I-6, 24:6I-6.1, 24:6I-7, 24:6I-7.1, 24:6I-7.2, 24:6I-7.3, 24:6I-7.4, 24:6I-7.5, 24:6I-10, 24:6I-11, 24:6I-12, 24:6I-13, 24:6I-16, 24:6I-17, 24:6I-18, 24:6I-19, 24:6I-20, 24:6I-21, 24:6I-22, 24:6I-23, 24:6I-24, 24:6I-25, 24:6I-26, 24:6I-27, 24:6I-28, 24:6I-29, 24:6I-33, 24:6I-34, 24:6I-35, 24:6I-36, 24:6I-37, 24:6I-38, 24:6I-39, 24:6I-40, 24:6I-41, 24:6I-42, 24:6I-43, 24:6I-44, 24:6I-45, 24:6I-46, 24:6I-47, 24:6I-48, 24:6I-48.1, 24:6I-48.2, 24:6I-48.3, 24:6I-48.4, 24:6I-50, 26:3A2-20.2, 33:1-4.1, 43:16A-3.8, 45:1-45.1, 52:13D-17.2, 52:17B-71, 53:1-8.2, 53:1-8.3, 53:1-11.3, 53:1-11.4, 53:1-11.5, 53:1-11.6, 53:1-11.9, 53:5A-5.1, 53:5A-6, 53:5A-9, 54:47F-1