HOWELL – The Howell Township Council members have announced that the cannabis ordinance will be tabled to a further date.
The ordinance was originally introduced on May 25. If adopted, it will prohibit marijuana businesses from operating in the township. A public hearing was then set for June 15 with a possible vote to occur for the adoption.
Despite these remarks, the council addressed at the June 15 meeting how the ordinance will be tabled. Township Manager Brian Geoghegan explained the reason why the council members need to delay the ordinance voting.
“We originally scheduled the cannabis ordinance for tonight’s agenda… there’s a recommendation to table that, to carry it to the next meeting. We are putting it before the Planning Board and they have not had a chance to review it yet,” Geoghegan said.
Back in November, New Jersey residents voted to legalize adult use of marijuana. State officials have given municipalities until August 21 to pass ordinances to prohibit or permit marijuana businesses.
Within Monmouth County, 65.6 percent of residents voted to approve legalization of marijuana, 34.4 percent voted against. For Howell, 63.39 percent voted to legalize it.
“This (ordinance) is not against, or banning, this is just giving us time to zone and this is where it should go and this is where it shouldn’t go. This ordinance is giving us home rule and giving Howell control and that’s all it is,” Councilman John Bonevich stated at the May 25 meeting.
Township Attorney Joe Clark previously explained how if no ordinance is established, then it’s up to the State as to where these businesses will be placed.
“This way we get to ban it for now and we can revisit it when there are more rules and regulations in place, when we see how other towns are faring with their tax revenue,” Clark said.
The new date for the public hearing and possible vote to adopt the ordinance will be the July 13 meeting.
