To ask my neighbours if they insist on smoking weed….

[Emille87]

to do it in their back garden as opposed to in their house as the smell is coming into my home. We live in a semi abs we are on friendly terms with our neighbours. They are mid 30’s have two dc and seemed very nice people. We only moved to the area about six months ago and a while back I thought I could smell weed in my hallway but thought nah it must be something else. Well it turns out it wasn’t. My neighbours are full on smoking it a few times a week now and the smell is literally coming through the walls mostly into my kitchen but also into my hall which then wafts upstairs. Other than this issue we haven’t had any problems with the neighbours and they seem nice out dc get on with each other etc. I just can’t take the smell anyone. My dh had said he’ll have a word but I have an anxiety disorder and I know if he speaks to them I’ll be worried and paranoid about seeing or speaking to them when I leave the house.

Just ask them

They don't know to do anything different if you don't say anything

I hate how casual people are about weed smoking, and I say that as someone who has lots of friends who use/used it recreationally.

Someone referred to them as hippies, there's this idea that its people chilling out with a joint of an evening, no big deal, same as the smell of incense. In reality, strains have got SO much stronger. I know two people whose lives have been destroyed by drug-induced schizophrenia, the result of exposure to much much stronger weed in their teens. Others whose lives have been negatively effected. And yes, ones who cheerily enjoy a smoke at the weekend/at a party/when their kids are at sleepovers, but those people are not smoking in the kitchen in the middle of the day while their kids are playing.

So yeah, if we're worried about young children's increased asthma risk from parents smoking tobacco (and I know two friends who reckon their asthma is entirely down to their parents 20-a-day habits as children) then we should be worried about the mental health risk of children constantly exposed to week, which is what the OP is describing. And be as worried about parents driving the morning after as we would be if we knew they downed several bottles of wine between them.

Honestly though OP, if they're nice, I'd maybe mention it to them. They probably won't be aware smoke travels. But the garden will almost certainly be worse. However, there might be gaps. Is there another neighbour who could potentially be to 'blame' if you raise it and then make a complaint? Because if not, they'll probably figure out its you anyway. Another potential avenue if you really do think they're driving high is mentioning that to police, its coming up to Christmas so random road blocks and breathalysers are a thing.

You need to think through the risks. But, v regular smokers are unlikely to quit. They may move it outside some of the time. So the question is would that be enough. If not, you have to weight up whether you want official intervention, and if you do maybe go straight down that path.

I'm surprised at the number of people on here saying they can do what they want in their home. Cannabis is actually still an illegal drug. If it's bothering you then you can just report them.

Talk to them about it.
Write a letter if you can't face confrontation.
If they have an extractor fan over the oven they could use that when smoking in the kitchen.
I'd try that first, tell them you have asthma if it helps.

We used to get the smell of curry coming into our house from next door, and it was the ventilation grille from their kitchen which was being drawn into our kitchen. Didnt really mind it except Sunday mornings it seemed particularly pungent !

I'd report them too. If they want to smoke it fine but why should the dc and you have to put up with the smell. It's stinks and will be worse in summer when your windows are open ect. If you don't want the confrontation then you can report them and ask to do it anonymous so they don't know it's you. Surley other neighbours have smelt it too so they won't know for sure it's you that reported them.

OP I do tend to agree with others that I think you're being rather hypercritical smoking yourself. I agree that having the smell in your house isn't acceptable but I don't actually think you've got a moral leg to stand on that you think you do.

You started this thread by saying several times how nice they were and have now jumped to judgement, rage and full on reporting.

Why not simply have a conversation? If they're as nice as you say then nipping next door and asking nicely if they'd mind using the garage and perhaps even mentioning that's what you do, may solve your issue

If it turns nasty and they refuse then step up but don't go nuclear without first trying to reach out.

OP, you sound annoying, defensive, snappy, hypocritical and a busybody all in one go.

Your home won’t smell clean to any guests that don’t smoke cigarettes, it will smell like cigarettes to them, so maybe the smell of weed will mask that. But by all means, if you want to go full on calling the police and HA on your neighbours after living there for just 6 months, go ahead. I’m sure that would help your anxiety.

But by all means, if you want to go full on calling the police and HA on your neighbours after living there for just 6 months, go ahead. I’m sure that would help your anxiety. hmm

This

@nurserypolitics

I hate how casual people are about weed smoking, and I say that as someone who has lots of friends who use/used it recreationally.

Someone referred to them as hippies, there's this idea that its people chilling out with a joint of an evening, no big deal, same as the smell of incense. In reality, strains have got SO much stronger. I know two people whose lives have been destroyed by drug-induced schizophrenia, the result of exposure to much much stronger weed in their teens. Others whose lives have been negatively effected. And yes, ones who cheerily enjoy a smoke at the weekend/at a party/when their kids are at sleepovers, but those people are not smoking in the kitchen in the middle of the day while their kids are playing.

So yeah, if we're worried about young children's increased asthma risk from parents smoking tobacco (and I know two friends who reckon their asthma is entirely down to their parents 20-a-day habits as children) then we should be worried about the mental health risk of children constantly exposed to week, which is what the OP is describing. And be as worried about parents driving the morning after as we would be if we knew they downed several bottles of wine between them.

Honestly though OP, if they're nice, I'd maybe mention it to them. They probably won't be aware smoke travels. But the garden will almost certainly be worse. However, there might be gaps. Is there another neighbour who could potentially be to 'blame' if you raise it and then make a complaint? Because if not, they'll probably figure out its you anyway. Another potential avenue if you really do think they're driving high is mentioning that to police, its coming up to Christmas so random road blocks and breathalysers are a thing.

You need to think through the risks. But, v regular smokers are unlikely to quit. They may move it outside some of the time. So the question is would that be enough. If not, you have to weight up whether you want official intervention, and if you do maybe go straight down that path.

I take it you support the legalisation of cannabis then? By the state taking control and supply away from the criminal gangs you are able to regulate the market and make it much harder to get it illegally

I think its a very similar situation to the prohibition era in the US because all alcohol was illegal therefore the sale of spirits became prevalent, more bang for your buck as you were, skunk is the new whiaky. Once the sale of drugs becomes normalised and regulated people are unlikely to get their weed from a dealer when you dont know what stength theyre giving you, what balance you have between the thc and the cbd, because alcohol is so normalised theres no way youd consider meeting some guy in a shady car park for a bottle of unknown spirits

Many of today's famously strong strains are ~30 years old

The biggest difference between weed now and then is that what you're smoking hasn't sat in an international supply chain for an indeterminate period, it's fresher, it's probably grown locally. In the 90s we used to get hash oil that would absolutely dwarf the up to 30% THC that exists in some weed now (that you can virtually never buy in the UK)

It's a popular soundbyte that weed has got X amount stronger but it's virtually impossible to accurately measure

Can't believe the number of posters saying what your neighbours do in their own home is their own business! Cannabis is still a class B drug, it is affecting your legal right to quiet enjoyment of your own home, and you shouldn't have to put up with it.
I'd suggest a quiet word with them first. If that doesn't work, you have the option of the police, the HA, and social services (because of the children). As an HA tenant, at least you won't need to worry about having to declare problems if you sell. Perhaps a visit from the police will be enough to get them to stop.
A word of warning though, housing associations will only evict as an absolute last resort, and will need bucket loads of evidence before they can do that. As an example, the police have witnessed our neighbours using cannabis in their home on at least four occasions (as in, the neighbours actually came to the door with a stinky spliff in their hand!), with our neighbours formally admitting use the same number of times. Our council will not even consider eviction, as this is not considered sufficient evidence of an 'ongoing' problem.
They shouldn't be allowed to make you miserable in your own home like this. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

The neighbours may be completely unaware of how far the smell is travelling. They may not want to aggravate you at all.

I guess your options are

• report it
• speak to them calmly
• do nothing

Personally I'd speak to them about it.

Aww poor poppet having to live next to nasty junkies who smoke weed despite having children. And how awful for your responsible and mature teenager to have to deal with it too.

Aww poor poppet having to live next to nasty junkies who smoke weed despite having children. And how awful for your responsible and mature teenager to have to deal with it too.
Smoking weed is never acceptable around DC your post is minimizing the damage to their lungs, financial costs associated with weed, mood swings etc in the family home.

Weed is very common around here it isn't normal or acceptable to stink a neighbours house or jeer a teenager because he doesn't like the smell.

Very immature.

You should speak to them yourself op if you’re worried about how your partner will say it.

Just be nice about it. You said they seem alright.

@EmeraldShamrock you can find it immature all you want but anyone who goes from talking about how lovely their neighbour is to suddenly attempting to demonise them has clearly started a nonsense thread to rile the masses. The masses are almost as comical as the OP though so cheers

Speak to them.
The police won't do anything and there's plenty that can be done to minimise the smell. You'd be in a worse position if they had an incense habit.

who goes from talking about how lovely their neighbour is to suddenly attempting to demonise them has clearly started a nonsense thread to rile the masses.
I get that but even lovely people can fuck up their DC through addiction.
I am concerned for the DC and how it is normality for them.
Loads of people smoke it around here but it isn't for DC to see.
I'd be as concerned if a neighbour was drinking in the morning with DC too.

I would just ask nicely. I used to smoke and if someone had asked nicely I would have obliged.

Most stoners do wish for an easy and drama free life.

my neighbours smoke weed morning and evening, in the back garden.

In summer it drifts in through the bedroom windows. Otherwise, not noticeable.

You might consider a positive pressure house ventilation system. Like an extractor fan but it sits in the loft and blows in through a grille in the ceiling. It slighty pressurises your house so that air leaks OUT through any cracks or gaps, draughts do not blow in.

Weed is not stronger now than it used to be. Total myth

I had this with our neighbours, and at the time my DC was a baby and I wasn't impressed at all. I went round and told them that we could smell it in our house and they were horrified and it didn't happen again. They were nice neighbours and whilst I didn't want to cause an issue I also wasn't prepared to tolerate it with a young baby. You don't know what they will think until you speak with them.

Our houses are 230 years old so there must be gaps everywhere as it was like we had been smoking it ourselves.