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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Smoking neighbour what would you do?

73 replies

SmokeyChokey · 18/08/2020 22:44

I get on with my neighbours to say hello to and they sometimes take in my post. So all ok. They’re nice people.

Except they smoke cannabis pretty much most evenings all evening. I’ve been able to smell it for a couple of years and put up with it as it hasn’t massively bothered me. I’ve thought now and again it gives me a stuffy nose. Worried more and more. I have mild asthma and I’m starting to wonder if it’s making things in my house permanently smell and potentially damage my health. My curtains in one room in particular now smell faintly like smoker’s curtains I think. Not bothered about it being weed just the fact that it’s any smoke and smell.

I don’t want to fall out with them or embarrass them, or have any awkwardness, but I kind of want to ask them to stop. AIBU or not and WWYD?

OP posts:
TheUser420 · 19/08/2020 17:16

I have to say, re-reading the OP that it's a little odd that the smell is crossing houses. Pretty certain that isn't supposed to happen - regardless of what the cause is. Although I wouldn't claim to be an architectural expert, there might be some mileage in getting that looked at from both sides ?

WorraLiberty · 19/08/2020 17:35

They have the power to enter and perform a search (this might be one of the 1 times in 100 when they really do "smell cannabis" ...) and possession of cannabis in any form is contrary to the 1971 MDA. However the paperwork involved would far outweigh any benefit to anyone - especially if the neighbours have no previous and a cannabis warning is indicated.

Do you have a link to this please TheUser420 ?

I keep Googling and nowhere can I find the police having the right to enter anyone's home just because they suspect them of smoking weed.

updownroundandround · 19/08/2020 17:38

Just wash your curtains. Maybe buy an air purifier ?

If they are in their own home or in their garden there's nothing you can do about it.

SmokeyChokey · 19/08/2020 17:44

Pug I’m in UK. I’m lucky they only do it in the evening I suppose.

Have your DM come over and completely innocently exclaim that your house stinks of weed and how disgusting it is, very very loudly. That's what worked for me!

anditgoeson
Haha I’ve thought about that. She’s not been here for a while I’ve been going down there. But I have worried that if we ever get through this virus thing and she comes to stay she will go absolutely apeshit if she smells it! So I was thinking I’d have to politely ask them to give it a break if she visited, for their own good, she probably would over react and call the police!

OP posts:
SmokeyChokey · 19/08/2020 17:49

@updownroundandround

Just wash your curtains. Maybe buy an air purifier ?

If they are in their own home or in their garden there's nothing you can do about it.

Yes I’ve just washed the curtains. It was taking them down (which I’ve not done before) and taking them into the kitchen that I then smelled them and realised they smelled of smoke. I’d not smelled them in the room, possibly because that whole room smells (faintly) smoky and I’d just not realised it before.

Yes got the air purifier. It’s working well but just another thing to worry about and also it uses electricity each day. Glad I’ve got it though.

OP posts:
TheUser420 · 19/08/2020 17:58

I keep Googling and nowhere can I find the police having the right to enter anyone's home just because they suspect them of smoking weed.

PACE 1984 - right of entry upon suspicion an offence is being committed. In this case possession of cannabis contrary to section of the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act.

(The irony being the neighbours are actually using the cannabis perfectly. No misuse whatsoever ....)

ukpolicelawblog.com/index.php/9-blog/85-can-i-come-in-the-perils-of-summary-entry-to-a-home

is a fascinating read.

Bear in mind there are light years of distance between what the police should do, and what they actually do.

SmokeyChokey · 19/08/2020 18:08

@TheUser420

I’ve bought a good air purifier which works.

It might have been more effective if you'd given it to them Smile

Vaping is much less intrusive than smoking too.

Also if they used an ioniser in the room they smoke in, it would drop the smoke particles out of the air so they don't spread.

Lol yes.

I am surprised they do it, they’re quite into health and well-being in some ways. Generally very considerate. They also have DC.

Good to hear from PPs who have been on the other side and not taken offence at being asked! Thank you for that.

I think I might casually mention it next time we speak and see what happens. I’m guessing they don’t realise I can smell it. They once apologised for the noise from their (very occasionally screaming) DC. But actually I can hardly hear any noise from them at all!

OP posts:
evensong11 · 19/08/2020 18:24

If they drive, a police or DVLA matter. If not, the DM option sounds good to me.

[AUTO]d3jqakcn9qlt2 · 19/08/2020 18:33

Evensong that's a pretty harsh line to take. If you're a regular user, cannabis stays in the blood and hair for a long time, long after its effects on you are worn off. This unfairly discriminates, especially compared with alcohol. You could cause someone to lose their license, job and even go to jail, in this case leaving children! Do you really believe that's a proportional response before the op has even had a neighbourly chat?

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 19/08/2020 18:37

Where is the smoke coming through?
If it's doors or windows, look at improving the seal - I used the foam strip type to improve the seal on the door a few years ago.

[AUTO]d3jqakcn9qlt2 · 19/08/2020 18:41

OP just suggest a vape! It's a simple solution. 🙂

WorraLiberty · 19/08/2020 18:46

@TheUser420

I keep Googling and nowhere can I find the police having the right to enter anyone's home just because they suspect them of smoking weed.

PACE 1984 - right of entry upon suspicion an offence is being committed. In this case possession of cannabis contrary to section of the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act.

(The irony being the neighbours are actually using the cannabis perfectly. No misuse whatsoever ....)

ukpolicelawblog.com/index.php/9-blog/85-can-i-come-in-the-perils-of-summary-entry-to-a-home

is a fascinating read.

Bear in mind there are light years of distance between what the police should do, and what they actually do.

Yes massive light years because they're not going to get a judge to sign a warrant and they're not going to be able to enter without one (according to that) unless a crime has been committed.

Whilst the OP is claiming they're smoking cannabis, the police would be in a lot of trouble if they tried to force entry without any evidence and also for such a small crime, that they normally just hand out the odd street caution for.

But yes technically at a huge stretch I suppose they could try to force entry because Bob and Barbara are having a puff Grin

TheUser420 · 19/08/2020 19:06

Yes massive light years because they're not going to get a judge to sign a warrant and they're not going to be able to enter without one (according to that) unless a crime has been committed. [] Whilst the OP is claiming they're smoking cannabis, the police would be in a lot of trouble if they tried to force entry without any evidence and also for such a small crime, that they normally just hand out the odd street caution for. [] But yes technically at a huge stretch I suppose they could try to force entry because Bob and Barbara are having a puff

The police don't need a warrant if they "have reasonable suspicion" a crime is being committed. Which (as I said) covers possession of cannabis. Which is why "I smelled cannabis" is a very popular reason for police to force entry or a search (as recent events with police stopping cars shows).

They also don't need a warrant if you are arrested on the street - they get a free pass to undertake a search of any premises you were seenleaving and any premises you give as your address.

Once entry is established, it matters not a jot if the suspicion that gained entry is confirmed or not. The police are in, and that is that. The UK doesn't really do "unlawful evidence" so bad luck.

Since we know the neighbours have a child, there's a whole raft of child protection laws that could also be just to justify a forced entry.

Over the years I have known a lot of people that have found themselves making tea for the police without a warrant and without giving them permission to enter - it happens a lot.

If you're a regular user, cannabis stays in the blood and hair for a long time, long after its effects on you are worn off.

If people are worried about that then it's far better to take cocaine or heroin. They are excreted pretty quickly and rarely picked up when people are stopped driving. It's why they are the drugs of choice in prisons which run testing regimes. Much less chance of being caught.

PigletJohn · 19/08/2020 20:09

Closing the nearby windows will help.

Sometimes, depending on wind direction, opening a window on the other side of the house will blow air out of the smoky side.

It is possible go seal gaps between terraced houses, they will mostly be cracks in the walls between floors and ceiling where there is no plaster to cover them. This means lifting the floors and working in the loft. Expanding pink fire foam is ideal. Also back-to-back fireplaces.

But I think the positive pressure ventilation is the best option. You could perhaps blow air down from the loft into the landing or the room with the windows that gets it.

SmokeyChokey · 19/08/2020 20:09

[quote [AUTO]d3jqakcn9qlt2]OP just suggest a vape! It's a simple solution. 🙂[/quote]
How do you vape cannabis? Surely you can’t buy a refill of it from a vape shop?

OP posts:
TheUser420 · 19/08/2020 20:55

How do you vape cannabis? Surely you can’t buy a refill of it from a vape shop?

No. There are devices ("The Volcano" for example) which incinerate the dried herb at a high enough temperature to almost eliminate odours. Much healthier than any form of smoking.

You can get them on Amazon Smile

Closing the nearby windows will help.

Much as I might support the freedom of people to choose what to put into their bodies, it's not fair when it affects other people, like the OP. This is 100% the responsiblity of the neighbours.

Believe it or not, very few tokers are anarchists.

WorraLiberty · 19/08/2020 20:55

I'm sorry User I just can't agree.

Taking someone's door off because they're having a joint in the comfort of their own home, is just never ever going to happen - kids or not.

There'd be riots around here if that ever happened (Met police area).

Staffy1 · 19/08/2020 20:55

It's their house. I can't see anyone stopping because a neighbour doesn't like it. If I were them I would feel annoyed and uncomfortable if a neighbour brought it up. It's not that easy to just stop smoking even if you want to and they may not want to.

TheUser420 · 19/08/2020 21:05

@WorraLiberty

I'm sorry User I just can't agree.

Taking someone's door off because they're having a joint in the comfort of their own home, is just never ever going to happen - kids or not.

There'd be riots around here if that ever happened (Met police area).

Shrug

You've moved the goalposts. Or there's been a misunderstanding.

I'm specifically referring to a situation where the police (for whatever reason) knock on your door, and you answer it, and what could happen then.

I'm not referring to a full on raid with a warrant.

I grew up in London, not that far from Tottenham, by the way, so I know too well how riots start Sad

SmokeyChokey · 23/08/2020 16:20

All quiet on the western front.

OP posts:
OneTC · 23/08/2020 16:29

We once had the police come round and ask us to shut our curtains so the persistent caller who lived opposite us might stop ringing them Grin

TheUser420 · 23/08/2020 16:34

@OneTC

We once had the police come round and ask us to shut our curtains so the persistent caller who lived opposite us might stop ringing them Grin
What were they ringing about ? (Nosey !!)
SmokeyChokey · 23/08/2020 17:47

What were they ringing about ? (Nosey !!)

Yes what? And are you on the right thread!?

OP posts:
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