Howell, NJ Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)

The Howell Township Council adopted the cannabis ban on 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. O-21-13, and the ban is printed twice in the Code. Chapter 19 was retitled from Federal Law Violation to Federal Law Violation and Cannabis Prohibition at the same time. Section 19-2 states that all six marketplace classes of cannabis establishments, including cannabis cultivator, cannabis manufacturer, cannabis wholesaler, cannabis retailer, cannabis distributor and cannabis delivery service, as those terms are defined in Section 3 of P.L. 2021, c. 16, N.J.S.A. 24:6I-33, are prohibited uses or activities within the Township of Howell.

The zoning copy sits in Chapter 188, Land Use, § 188-67, Prohibited uses in all zones. That section begins by listing uses prohibited throughout the Township, and subsection G, Cannabis prohibition, carries the same ban. Its purpose clause says the ordinance regulates the marketplace class of licensed recreational cannabis businesses and codifies a prohibition under Section 31b of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act, N.J.S.A. 24:6I-45b, on all six classes. Its definitions subsection adopts the meanings from Section 3 of P.L. 2021, c. 16. Because the ban is a use prohibition in all zones, no zoning district in Howell Township has a cannabis retail, cultivation, manufacturing, wholesale or distribution slot to apply for.

There is one exception, repeated in both places. The prohibition does not apply to delivery of cannabis items and related supplies into Howell Township by a cannabis delivery service located outside the geographic boundaries of Howell Township, if that service is duly licensed by the municipality in which it operates. Section 19-1 adds that the Township Council, its officials, employees, the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Adjustment are not to support or sanction activity that requires a Township decision, action or inaction in violation of federal law.