HOWELL – After listening to the public and speaking amongst each other, the township unanimously voted to ban recreational and medical marijuana sales in the township, arguing they had to do so to make sure they have some control over where such businesses can be located if they allow them at a later date.

The council agreed to plan a workshop session to start discussing zoning for such businesses.

Only Mayor Theresa Berger, Councilwoman Evelyn O’Donnell, and Deputy Mayor Thomas Russo were present for the Tuesday meeting. Councilwoman Pamela Richmond and Councilman John Bonevich were absent. 

“The people of the town voted. What we are doing is we’re trying to ensure that we have it in the correct location,” said Berger. 

Howell residents voted 63% in favor of legalizing marijuana in the November ballot measure. Statewide, 67% of residents voted in favor.

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Under the New Jersey marijuana legalization laws, municipalities have until Aug. 21 to prohibit recreational marijuana sales and dispensaries or the businesses will be automatically permitted in existing retail and industrial zones. 

“The law was just passed, that gave municipalities a very short timeframe to act,” said Township Attorney Joseph Clark. “There is no regulation yet at the state level, so it’s unlikely that regulation is going to materialize and time for us to effectively take notice of it and do any kind of real planning,” he said.

“It’s something the state has kind of forced us to do with the short six-month deadline,” he continued. 

O’Donnell agreed. 

“Everybody’s concerned. I just don’t think we have enough information,” said O’Donnell. 

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Some residents of the township disagreed with the decision. Ryan Marlowe said he needs medical marijuana.

“As a 10-year Navy vet that is 100% disabled for PTSD, medical marijuana has been the biggest thing that has saved my life,” said Marlowe. 

Marlowe currently travels an hour and a half to pick up his medicine. The traveling alone adds to the anxiety of his disability, said Marlowe. 

The town is among neighbors such as Wall, Lakewood, and Asbury Park have all adopted the ban. Howell is looking for guidance and regulations from the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission, said the township attorney. 

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Even with an August deadline, residents wanted to know why the council did not plan ahead of time. 

“We knew this was coming since last November. We should have been immediately identifying the zones that we wanted, what types of businesses we wanted, and figuring out an ordinance that would allow growers,” said Joan Osborne. “Howell is a farming town — we want to be a farming town, we don’t want to see our farms sold to become warehouses.”

This is revenue the town sorely needs, said Osborne.

Two Howell farmers, Sue Keymer and Ed McNamee, are trying to acquire a license to grow marijuana. Their attorney came to the stand to speak on their behalf. 

“They just want to be farmers,” said Attorney Lawrence Luttrell. 

Kaymer is a second-generation farmer who has struggled to make ends meet. This could be an opportunity for her and her business partner to change their lives, said Luttrell.

The licenses will be gone and this opportunity will be missed, said Luttrell. 

Berger struggled to make a decision, she said.

“I just don’t know, I don’t understand,” said the mayor. “I’m very torn at this point listening to the citizens that need service,” she said. 

“I respectfully request that we have that meeting sooner than later because as people are saying, they want to move forward. So, for us to wait until October or November, is not the appropriate time,” continued Berger.

Both Councilwoman O’Donnell and Deputy Mayor Russo agreed. 

“Let’s get to work,” said Russo. 

Lana Leonard is the Asbury Park Press summer intern. They are attending The College of New Jersey and can be reached at [email protected]

Source: Asbury Park

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