SR11

Sponsored by:

Senator ROBERT W. SINGER

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE

District 19 (Middlesex)

SYNOPSIS

Urges President and Congress of United States to enact legislation establishing a safe daily level of cannabidiol consumption.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

A Senate Resolution urging the President and Congress of the United States to enact legislation establishing a safe daily level of cannabidiol consumption.

Whereas, Cannabidiol is a chemical that is prevalent in products derived from the cannabis plant; and

Whereas, Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is also prevalent in products derived from the cannabis plant, the consumption of cannabidiol does not produce euphoric effects or cause an individual to feel “high”; and

Whereas, The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that products such as food additives and dietary supplements that contain cannabidiol are illegal under federal law; and

Whereas, Within the past three years, more than 1,500 cannabidiol products have come to the market without a clear approach for regulation or any plan from the FDA to balance consumer access and protect consumer health; and

Whereas, The lack of clear policy towards cannabidiol from the FDA and the patchwork regulation of the substance by the states has created a complicated legal framework in which cannabidiol companies are attempting to operate; and

Whereas, The lack of clear regulatory guidance includes uncertainty as to the level of cannabidiol content that is safe and appropriate for human consumption. This uncertainty can present a risk to the public health, as consumers have access to a wide variety of cannabidiol products but no clear direction as to what amount is safe to consume in a single sitting or over the course of time; and

Whereas, As a result of this uncertain legal framework, it has become difficult for cannabidiol companies to participate in interstate commerce because banks, insurance companies, and merchant service companies are uneasy about providing services to cannabidiol companies, which may be at risk investigation or adverse enforcement actions by the FDA; and

Whereas, By enacting legislation that specifies a safe daily level of cannabidiol consumption, the President and Congress of the United States would help allow individuals to experience the holistic and therapeutic benefits of cannabidiol while ensuring consumer safety and facilitate the participation of cannabidiol companies in interstate commerce, thereby generating increased economic activity nationwide; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House respectfully urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact legislation establishing a safe daily consumption level for cannabidiol.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and each member of the United States Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This resolution respectfully urges the President and Congress of the United States to establish by way of legislation safe daily consumptions levels for cannabidiol.

Cannabidiol is a chemical that is prevalent in products derived from the cannabis plant. Unlike tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC), which is also prevalent in products derived from the cannabis plant, the use of cannabidiol does not cause the user to experience euphoric effects or feel “high.” There is currently a lack of regulatory certainty and cohesion concerning cannabidiol products, which may have an adverse effect on the growth of the cannabidiol industry and create health risks for members of the public, who have access to a wide diversity of cannabidiol products but no guidance concerning appropriate consumption levels.

This resolution therefore respectfully urges that the President and Congress of the United States to adopt legislation providing guidance concerning safe daily consumption levels for cannabidiol.