[§328G-9] Registry of distributors and retailers; application; renewals; suspension or revocation of certificates; exceptions. [See Note at beginning of chapter.] (a) The department shall establish and maintain a registry of all manufactured hemp product distributors and manufactured hemp product retailers doing business in the State.
(b) Beginning January 1, 2026, no manufactured hemp product distributor or manufactured hemp product retailer shall sell or offer for sale manufactured hemp products without a certificate of registration issued by the department pursuant to this section. It shall be the responsibility of the manufactured hemp product distributor or manufactured hemp product retailer to confirm that a valid certificate of registration has been obtained and is in compliance with any and all laws, rules, and regulations.
(c) A manufactured hemp product distributor or manufactured hemp product retailer that sells or offers for sale or intends to sell or offer for sale manufactured hemp products shall apply to the department to be registered and receive a certificate of registration on an application form prescribed by the department and pay an application fee of $50.
(d) An application that fails to contain all the information as required by the department shall be deemed incomplete. Any incomplete application shall be denied.
(e) After receipt of a complete and accurate application form and payment of the application fee, the department shall list the manufactured hemp product distributor or manufactured hemp product retailer as a registrant on the registry and issue a certificate of registration. Whenever a certificate of registration is defaced, destroyed, or lost, the department may issue a duplicate certificate of registration to the registrant for a fee of $10 per copy.
(f) The department shall post on its website a current list of registrants on the registry.
(g) The certificate of registration shall be valid for five years and shall be renewed by filing a completed renewal application with, and paying a renewal fee of $50 to, the department.
(h) All fees required under this section shall be non-transferable and non-refundable and shall be fully paid before the issuance of a new or renewed certificate of registration.
(i) The certificate of registration issued under this section shall be displayed at all times in a conspicuous place at the place of business where the sale of manufactured hemp products is conducted and a digital reproduction of the certificate of registration shall be displayed conspicuously on the website of a registrant conducting sales online.
(j) The department may suspend or revoke a registrant's certificate of registration for failure to comply with this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter pursuant to the procedures set forth in section 328G-6.
(k) Carriers or entities that ship goods shall not be subject to this section by reason of their receipt, carriage, holding, shipping, or delivery of manufactured hemp products in the usual course of business as carriers or entities that ship goods unless the carrier or entity sells or offers for sale manufactured hemp products.
(l) Hemp processors with a valid permit issued pursuant to section 328G-2 shall be issued a certificate of registration and added to the registry by the department for the sale and distribution of manufactured hemp products at the locations indicated on the permit. The certificate of registration shall be issued with the same expiration date as found on the permit. Application and renewal fees required in subsections (c) and (g) shall not apply to hemp processors with a valid permit issued pursuant to section 328G-2.
(m) This section shall not apply to the sale of the following manufactured hemp products:
(1) Products that are topically applied; or
(2) Tinctures; provided that tinctures shall not be sold to individuals under the age of twenty-one;
provided further that the manufactured hemp products otherwise comply with this chapter and any rules adopted pursuant to this chapter. [L 2025, c 269, pt of §1]