The New Jersey Division of Taxation recently provided guidance[1] on registration and licensing requirements, Social Equity Excise Fees, and the Sales & Use tax applicable to companies operating in the cannabis industry.[2]

The following provides important takeaways from the Division’s publication.

Registration & Licensing

To operate a cannabis business in New Jersey a company must

On March 15, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the opening of the portal to obtain an Adult-use Conditional Cultivator License to grow adult-use cannabis. Farmers who qualify and apply will pay a non-refundable $2,000 application and licensing fee.

To qualify for this license an applicant must have been

1.  an authorized industrial hemp research partner

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has announced regulations concerning the manufacturing and labeling of cannabinoid hemp products, and the availability of an online portal to facilitate required state licensure. Cannabinoid hemp products sold in the state must comply with the regulations by April 25, 2022. The OCM will be reaching out

New York and New Jersey recently legalized recreational marijuana within less than 6 weeks of each other. While both acts prohibit employers from taking action against employees at least 21 years old who use marijuana recreationally and restrict employers from denying these employees’ employment rights and privileges based solely on marijuana use, it begs the

UPDATE: Governor Andrew Cuomo just signed into law the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act.

After years of fits and starts, New York has passed legislation to legalize recreational marijuana under the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (S854-A) which Governor Cuomo intends to sign. The legalization aspect of the bills would take effect immediately, while Senate

This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Warning Letters that effectively declare that the presence of cannabidiol (CBD) as an inactive ingredient in topical over-the-counter (OTC) drug products is a  violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).

In a news release issued on March 22, 2021 the FDA

More and more states across the country are legalizing the sale of marijuana products for medical and/or recreational purposes, but marijuana remains effectively prohibited under federal law as a Schedule I controlled substance within the meaning of the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

There is, however, one important and practical exception to that prohibition:

Near the end of 2020, in mid-December, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched what it referred to as “Operation CBDeceit,” a law enforcement sweep challenging allegedly unproven representations that CBD products could treat diseases and serious medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and more.           

At the same time, the FTC announced proposed settlements

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the New York State Department of Health is now accepting applications from businesses seeking licensure to operate as cannabinoid hemp processors, retailers, or distributors. Cannabinoid hemp includes many CBD products currently available for purchase, including tinctures, vaporizations, oils, topicals, pills, capsules and food and beverages.

Pursuant to Article 33-B of

As a candidate running for the office he now holds, President Biden advocated decriminalizing the use of marijuana, automatically expunging all prior marijuana use convictions, legalizing marijuana for medical purposes and rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II in order to permit scientific research into its effects, while leaving decisions regarding legalization of marijuana for