Howell voted in July to ban recreational and medical marijuana sales, but leaders at the time said they were doing so chiefly to avoid a deadline that would have forced the town to allow such sales with no local restrictions. Howell residents voted 63% in favor of legalizing marijuana in the November ballot measure. Statewide, 67% of residents voted in favor.
Township police Chief Andrew Kudrick said that as far as retail establishments go, police would not have much involvement, but from an enforcement standpoint, police would be looking out for intoxicated driving. Kudrick said there is no foolproof way to determine marijuana intoxication without a drug recognition expert (DRE).
"We have more problems here in town with live bands playing at some of our restaurants than I think we would with a marijuana establishment," Kudrick said. "Again, that's just my professional opinion."