CBD Oil in New Jersey: Is It Legal to Buy?

Disclaimer: All of the information in this guide is based on our own research into the topic. We have done our best to use accurate and up-to-date information from respected and credible resources. However, we cannot claim to be a legal authority, and none of the following information should be taken as legal advice.

A Guide to CBD Oil in New Jersey

• CBD is legal to buy and sell in New Jersey.
• In order to be considered legal, it must not contain more than 0.3 percent THC.
• In 2019, New Jersey adopted comprehensive laws allowing the sale of CBD.
• The laws also established a hemp-growing program.
• People are enjoying access to a world of CBD products through online ordering as well as in-store purchases.

Is CBD Legal in New Jersey?

The laws surrounding CBD are some of the most confusing in the country. You can find CBD everywhere you go, but the products aren’t necessarily legal everywhere you buy them. Additionally, some products that are packaged as legal, hemp-derived CBD actually contain illegal substances.

What gives? CBD is a booming market, and everyone from your co-workers to your grandparents is raving over CBD oils, gummies and even pet treats. The industry is expected to be valued at $20 billion or more by 2024, but some people are still nervous about buying CBD. 

The problem is that there are differing laws, the federal government is sitting on the fence and state laws are open to interpretation. It all started with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which defined hemp as separate from marijuana. Until then, most states considered them to be the same. The issue at present is that some states still do not seem to have gotten the memo, and are treating hemp and marijuana as a single legal entity.

Hemp-derived CBD is a substance lawmakers apparently did not take into careful consideration when removing hemp’s derivatives from the Drug Enforcement Agency’s list of controlled substances, because now both state and federal governments are scrambling to regulate a brand-new industry that is positively booming.

Are There CBD Laws in New Jersey?

You’ve probably heard the saying “Everything is legal in New Jersey.” Well, not everything. But CBD is certainly legal. Residents of New Jersey can freely enjoy CBD products with no worries, because A5322 was signed into law in August 2019. This bill allows CBD to be infused into an array of products. It even departs from federal guidelines, stating that CBD can be added to food and beverages.

New Jersey is taking a refreshingly progressive approach to CBD in the state, embracing the products and working on supporting a hemp-growing program that will bring a profitable crop to the state for everyone interested. One area where New Jersey is lacking, however, is consumer protections. The state does have licensing requirements for processors and labeling requirements for products, but retailers do not have to register or obtain a license to sell CBD.

CBD in New Jersey: Understanding Different Types of CBD Products

CBD Oil

The great thing about CBD oil is all the options it offers. Companies have gotten creative with their oils, infusing their products with additional ingredients to enhance effects. At Penguin, we like to keep things simple and straightforward, offering our pure broad-spectrum CBD in 250mg, 600mg and 1,000mg strengths. You can choose between four natural flavors, and our unflavored oil is perfect for adding to any recipe.

CBD Capsules

We know you like to have options, and with Penguin’s CBD capsules, you have yet another option for a CBD product that fits your lifestyle. Our capsules contain 10mg of the CBD oil you love, suspended in MCT oil for maximum absorption. Travel with a bottle, and you’ll be ready for whatever the day or night brings!

CBD Gummies

What’s sweet and sour and fun all over? Penguin CBD gummies! Our gummies are both soft and chewy, and they’re a perfect snack no matter what time of day it is. When your stomach is grumbling or your head is swimming, bring some balance back with our gummies, which are packed with 10mg of CBD. 

CBD Cream

We knew we had to add a CBD topical to round out our CBD selection, and this CBD cream was the perfect fit. When you want to feel extra pampered, give it a try. The lavender-and-peppermint-infused cream smells heavenly, and it will make your skin silky-smooth, for a healthy glow from the inside out.

Industrial Hemp in New Jersey

The Farm Bill of 2018 aimed to set up an infrastructure for states to develop commercial hemp-growing programs based on what they learned from the hemp research pilot programs of the previous years. Some states have well-established research into what it will take to support a lucrative program, and they are prepared with information about market potential and challenges.

New Jersey is one such state, and in fact was one of the first three states to get approval through the USDA to move ahead with production. In an interview with WHYY, the Garden State’s Secretary of Agriculture, Douglas Fisher, noted that hemp has over 25,000 different uses. New Jersey has hundreds of interested applicants for the 2020 growing season, which is the first season under the new regulations.

The state has also adopted legislation addressing the processing of hemp, and has worked to create a framework to protect consumers who purchase hemp products originating in New Jersey. Processors will have to be licensed through the state, and they will be subject to inspections and monitoring. All products containing hemp in any form will need to be labeled appropriately.

Even though the state has instituted well-planned legislation for growing and processing hemp, there is little by way of regulating the sale of CBD. This is one area where even states that appear to have thought of everything may be missing the mark in protecting consumers.

Can I Purchase CBD Online in New Jersey?

Purchasing CBD

CBD is available for purchase everywhere in New Jersey. You can get it in your local bodega, or even at the pet store. The problem with buying CBD at a traditional brick-and-mortar location, however, is the fact that retailers are not regulated. Many retailers are simply selling CBD because they got a sample in the mail from a company asking them to carry their product. 

It is challenging to do your research standing in a store, but you need to make sure the company you are getting your CBD from is reputable. The easiest way to give yourself the space to think about your decisions is to make your purchase online. When you use the web to do your research, you can easily find the resources you need to make informed choices.

CBD Oil in New Jersey

The reason it is so important to do research into CBD companies is that many are selling bogus products. They are taking advantage of a lack of regulation, and are mislabeling their CBD or, in some cases, selling products that don’t contain CBD at all. 

You can avoid being scammed by looking for a few important quality markers that will help you know you have a reputable company. Look for online customer reviews to find out what other people think of the company. And don’t make any purchases until you see third-party lab results. Every company that is operating on the up and up publishes these results.

Penguin

At Penguin CBD, we always proudly display the lab analysis from every batch of CBD that goes into our products. You can visit our website and find the results on our product pages, so you can be confident about everything you order from us. 

We have a great reputation among our customers, and our diverse team of experts is always looking for ways to provide even more value in our products. Our goal is to produce the best CBD on the planet, and make it accessible and affordable for everyone. 

Final Thoughts About CBD in New Jersey

New Jersey has adopted a promising approach to CBD, and it is one that other states will hopefully follow. Legislators have embraced CBD, fully legalizing all hemp-derived products containing up to 0.3 percent THC. The state even allows CBD to be added to food and beverages at local establishments, which is a step beyond most states that have legalized it.

New Jersey has also enthusiastically adopted a hemp-growing program, and the Secretary of Agriculture has a goal of the state being a leader in the nation for hemp agriculture. 2020 will be the first year growing hemp commercially under the USDA’s new legislation and it will be exciting to see what is in store for New Jersey hemp in the future.

One area in which New Jersey could improve is in its regulation of CBD sales. Currently, the majority of the CBD being sold in the state is imported, meaning that New Jersey does not have the same controls as it would over anything produced entirely within the state.

While you wait for New Jersey to start producing its own CBD products, visit Penguin CBD’s website to check out our products. When you see our reputation for being the best, you’ll understand why you shouldn’t settle for less.