What To Do When Your Neighbor’s Weed ‘Smells Like A Skunk’s Behind’: Block Talk

Connecticut Patch reader Diane looks at “neighborhood weed wars” this way: “Honestly, a whiff of pot is much less distressing to me than 100 hours of leaf blowing and lawnmowers every week.”

Diane was commenting on questions for Block Talk, Patch’s exclusive neighborhood etiquette column, about the balance between the personal freedom to sit outside and smoke a joint in states where it’s legal and the rights of neighbors to enjoy the outdoors without being exposed to its skunk-like pungency.

“We have actual skunks where I live, so we don’t get upset when we get whiffs,” Diane said.

“Seems to me, it’s like anything we live with — noise pollution, air pollution, traffic problems. It seems to be something we, who live in suburbia or cities, have to accept as part of life in crowded communities,” she continued. “I think we all have the right to smoke whatever we want, in our own homes.”

Diane doesn’t think that freedom is absolute, though.

“Try to be a good neighbor, just use common courtesy, have regard for neighbors, and don’t be disturbing your neighbors’ peace and comfort with excessive smells or noise,” she said.

‘Have At It’ — In An Unventilated Closet

Cranford (New Jersey) Patch reader Brainy Smurf said smoking pot is “a disgusting habit.”

“If people want to do it inside their well-sealed homes in an unventilated closet, have at it. But I should not be subjected to pot smokers’ pulmonary backwash that smells like a skunk’s rear end!” Brainy Smurf said.

“Part of living in a community is following not just explicit laws, but also social norms,” the reader continued. “One of those is not polluting your neighbor’s property, whether it is the water, ground, or air.”

“It’s disgusting, and I have not been able to enjoy a night outside with my four young kids because of our neighbors smoking weed every single weekend, every night of the weekend,” said Haverford-Havertown (Pennsylvania) Patch reader Amanda. “Just have some respect for your neighbors.”

“I don’t have any issue with people smoking it, but I should be able to have my windows open and not have the smoke coming into my apartment,” Concord (New Hampshire) Patch reader Tootone said. “Smoke it if you want, but be respectful to others that are around.”

“You can smoke it in your own home. Or vape. Same as with tobacco,” said Salem (Massachusetts) Patch reader Pat. “For every freedom is a responsibility. You can smoke what you like in your own home. But you have a responsibility to give your neighbor freedom to breathe clean air.”

How Can It Not Affect Others?

Dunedin (Florida) Patch reader Rissab isn’t sure how a person can smoke weed and not affect others around them.

“Cigarette smokers have to go outside to smoke. Cannabis has a much stronger smell,” Rissab said. “When our neighbor smokes cannabis in their back yard and we have our windows open, the smell literally fills our whole house.”

“It’s the same as cigarette smoke,” said Kim, who reads Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch and Galloway Patch, both in New Jersey. “It’s disgusting, and the rest of the world shouldn’t have to suffer because you have a nasty habit.

“Why should I not be able to go outside and read a book or play with my kids in my own yard because it smells like pot coming from someone else’s yard?” Kim said. “Do not allow your negative behaviors to affect others. Keep them to yourself in your own space.”

“Smoke inside your home or in some designated area of your premises. Use air filters if you don’t want the smell clinging to things,” said Westhampton-Hampton Bays (New York) Patch reader Llailu said.

“I cannot stand the smell and have a neighbor that smokes every day at 10 a.m. The smell wafts its way into my home and makes me sick,” Llailu continued. “I don't care that you want to smoke pot, but I don’t. Please take the stench somewhere else.”

‘Talk! Talk To Your Neighbors’

“If you’re on your own grounds, zero discussion,” said Warminster (Pennsylvania) Patch Nunya.

However, common sense should prevail, Nunya said: “If young children are outside or around, the user should wait or go inside or in your car (parked on home property).”

“If they can have their dogs barking at all hours to keep me awake for the past six years, I can smoke my J to sleep through it,” said Joliet (Illinois) Patch reader Bri.

That said, “Talk! Talk to your neighbors if you have a problem,” Bri said. “Just speak up and say, ‘Hey, do you mind being a bit more mindful about it? The smell bothers us.’”

In neighborhood etiquette, that’s a cue for the smoker to say, “Yeah! No problem. I’ll be more mindful going forward. Thanks for letting me know,” Bri said.

“Much like any smoking, whether it’s pot, cigarettes or a fine cigar, neighbors need to be considered the same as if you had a compost pile, chicken coop or anything else that may affect their backyard enjoyment,” Islip Terrace Patch reader Brady said. “Unfortunately, we have a neighbor who smokes weed two to three times a day out on his deck with no consideration for anyone downwind.”

Weed And Cigs An Unfair Comparison

“If someone is allowed to stand in their back yard and smoke a cigarette — despite there being many years of scientific study to prove it is harmful — then weed should be treated the same way,” San Francisco Patch reader Emily said. “And if I'm not allowed to smoke outside in my own back yard, where else exactly should I go to do that?”

Emily said common sense and courtesy guide her use.

“If I’m in my backyard smoking and I see or hear one of my close neighbors come outside, I will stop until they go back inside unless I know they don’t mind,” she said. “Otherwise, it’s just me out here, and you can close your window for 20 minutes if you don’t like it, just like I do when my next-door neighbor smokes his cigarettes.”

New Jersey Patch reader Kelly said the comparison of secondhand tobacco and cannabis is unfair.

“Why should the freedom to smoke marijuana end when it may actually be used medicinally in some circumstances?” Kelly said. “Cigarettes have no benefit to anyone, cause severe secondhand smoke damage, and ultimately are a huge burden on the healthcare system.”

Sure, “marijuana smells bad,” Kelly said, adding that
Considerate smokers observe others’ physical and personal boundaries and try to minimize the effect of their use of cannabis.

“If the personal freedom of anything should end, it should be the freedom to use substances — it should be the ones with direct links to cancer, not the one prescribed by a doctor to help you,” Kelly said.

“I use marijuana for several chronic illnesses to manage symptoms and pain; I also have young children,” Bel Air (Maryland) Patch reader Ashley said. “I believe there’s a difference between those just smoking anywhere and whenever, but for those who do use it for the betterment of our health, be conscious of whether windows are open or children are playing outside.

“But it’s no different than someone cooking on a grill and the smell, or a cigarette, or a loud car or motorcycle or big truck with smoke rolling out the back,” Ashley said.

‘Move Where They Can’t Smell My House Smells’

Pottstown (Pennsylvania) Patch reader Kace draws the line at “regulating personal freedoms on private property,” calling it a “slippery slope” at a time when freedoms are already jeopardized.

“If we start this, where does it end? Can’t smoke pot outside? Can’t smoke cigarettes outside? Can’t have a fire pit? Can’t have a BBQ?” Kace wondered. “I may not like the pot smell, but you may not like my TV program I’m watching and listening to while I’m sitting outside with my sliding door screen open, or the music I’m listening to.

“We have the freedom of choice, too. Go back inside for 10 minutes until they are done. I’m not going to regulate you, and please afford me the same courtesy.”

“I paid for the property, so I have every right to smoke there. If they want to avoid smelling pot, they need to move to a more spread-out area where they can’t smell my house smells,” said Bel Air (Maryland) Patch reader Kim.

“If you have a medical condition, let the smoker know so they can smoke when you aren’t also outside. But besides that, if you don’t like the smell, you need to move to somewhere else with more land between homes.”

‘Be A Decent Human Being’

Although research shows secondhand tobacco and cannabis smoke both carry health risks, most complaints are probably centered around weed’s smell, South Windsor (Connecticut) Patch reader Eddy said.

“So unless it were proposed that tobacco use and outdoor fires are banned for health reasons, weed smoke should not be,” Eddy said.

The balance between individual freedoms and property rights can be found by “being a decent human being and understanding there are two sides,” Eddy said. “If you have a neighbor who [complains], work together to reduce their exposure. Give them a heads-up, pick a different area of your yard. It doesn’t need to be ‘one side is right and one is wrong.’”

‘Why Are They Smoking It All Day Long?’

Laws in the 24 states where recreational cannabis is legal generally place restrictions on its use in public places.

Peabody (Massachusetts) Patch reader Jen’s complaint is with what seems to her an air of permissiveness regarding enforcement.

“I don't care if people smoke marijuana, but why are they smoking it all day long? We cannot drink alcohol in public, so why is it OK to walk down the street and smoke marijuana?” Jen said. “I personally hate the smell of it, and worry about parents smoking and the effects of secondhand smoke on kids.”

Silver Spring (Maryland) Patch reader A. isn’t sure of the best way to create a balance, but offered this: “I am tired of the all-day outdoor smoking lounge my neighbors have. The smell permeates my home.”

“The worst thing is, so many people are driving now smoking it, so now I can’t drive with the windows down without smelling it,” said Grumby, a Fredericksburg (Virginia) Patch reader. “My kid, or any other child, shouldn’t be smelling this.”

‘No Personal Freedom To Smoke Pot’

Avon (Connecticut) Patch reader Jim said the question — “Does the personal freedom to smoke pot end when it negatively impacts neighbors?” — is moot

“There is no personal freedom to smoke pot,” Jim said, despite both medical and recreational cannabis being legal in Connecticut, He defers to the federal code, which makes it illegal.

He said politicians in his state “choose to ignore the federal law because (1) they disagree with it, and (2) they are addicted to the cash they collect from the sale of cannabis.”

“Imagine the chaos that would take place if we all just ignored the laws we didn't likes,” he said.

Overall, he believes “personal freedoms always outweigh community well-being.”

“The moment we place the well-being of the collective above the rights of the individual, we lose our free society, but that is not the issue here,” Jim said. “The issue is that drug use, possession, manufacture or sale is not a personal freedom. Governments have always controlled the sale and possession of goods, be they drugs, weapons, or foods.”

And Then There’s This …

“Look, non-smokers have won nearly all bottles regarding smoking,” said Long Beach (California) Patch reader Nikki, “Smokers are usually the coolest, most casual, down-to-earth folks, and they truly have earned all rights to enjoy their smoke, Nikki said, drawing a comparison to the pressure some nursing mothers feel to retreat from public to feed their babies.

“If it’s offensive to have to feed your baby in the toilet, I think it’s equally offensive to have to squander your joint or bong to the confines of a bathroom,” Nikki said. “Eww.”

She wrote an essay on the medicinal uses of cannabis to treat a “litany of conditions.”

And, because somebody had to say it, Nikki pointed out the lawmakers setting the rules “probably need a doobie more than anyone.”

Circling back to the breastfeeding metaphor, Nikki offered this:

“Wouldn’t it be fine if they could enjoy the benefits of a bit of grass on a porch in the evening at sundown, instead of hiding in the bathroom? I say if you don’t smoke, just breathe it in when it passes you. You’ll feel infinitely better instantly, and you’ll forget what war you were waging so vehemently just moments before. Smoke ’em if you got ’em, and do it out loud, so the rest can enjoy without being hypocrites.”

There’s more, but you get the drift …

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.

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