Topic: Has anyone had issues with marijuana smokers, weed smell leeching into neighbors apartments?

Has anyone had issues with marijuana smokers, weed smell leeching into neighbors apartments? How did you fix it?

Example, two apartments are back to back, shared wall. But one apartment is technically a different building. Bedroom and bathroom walls are shared. Weed smell shows up in non smokers bathroom.

Example 2, two apartments in same building but master bedrooms and kitchen share same wall. Weed smell shows up in non smokers kitchen.

The smells seeping into the non-smokers apartment is strong.

Property is non-smoking and warnings/lease violations can be issued but doesn’t always stop people from ignoring the community policies.

Has anyone had this situation? How did you remedy it? I feel like it’s a bigger issue than issuing notices and lease violations. How do you present this issue to owners and get them to do something?

Charcoal air filters in both units

Gloria Starr Trosper Yeahhhh I don’t think that’s gonna cut it. It’s strong. Like we inspect and can smell it. Come back an hour later and you can still smell weed in the Non-smokers apartment.

Gloria Starr Trosper I would like to point out that CBD is legal in most states and looks and smells like weed

Gloria Starr Trosper I think the fact that it is a non smoking building is where the lease violation lies. And CBD comes in other forms, doesn't have to be smoked

I give out the non emergency police line to residents, explaining a paper trail of reports to the PD are always helpful when enforcing rules on our end as managers. It also tends to make people stop when the cops show up due to a complaint of a weed smell. Mark them as a non renewal if you don’t want confrontation but want to get rid of the problem.

Lauren Haltom It’s CO so weed is legal. Cops won’t do anything

Allie Gartside ohhhhhh well bummer. Are you able to non renew at will with no explanation there?

Allie Gartside even in illegal states as I am cops won't bother to show up for just "weed smell"

I had it personally. Found a lot of it was coming from when he would smoke on his patio and it would come up into my bathroom vent. Turning on and leaving the bathroom vent fan on helped. But finally the Pot Party moved out.

Josué Adam The outside smoking of weed isn’t the issue. It doesn’t seep in. The apartments that share a kitchen wall and master bedroom, the patios are opposite each other. So if they smoke on their patio that would actually be better haha. It doesn’t intrude the way it does when people smoke inside the apartment.

Allie Gartside I'm saying they did smoke outside and it did seep in to my unit, badly.

Good luck! Has been and always will be an issue in apartments.

We address the smoking aspect of a smoke free community. We inspect and if “smoke” is present, a legal letter is issued and could face eviction. We don’t address what they are smoking but just the smoking part of the violation

Ask them to switch from plant to concentrate. There's very little to no odor at all.

We let our courtesy officer talk to them. We're in Texas! Nothing like an officer walking up to your door when it's clear you've been smoking weed.

Seal the electrical outlets, lights, vents. In both units. Ask the smoking party to buy a smokeless ashtray.

You could explain the concept of edibles

I give a lease violation and charge them for oda ban bombs ( or similar) to clean the air.

Serve a notice for disturbing the quiet enjoyment of other persons.

Yep. Even spoke to the police. Their response, "Marijuana is legal now in Madison. There's nothing we can do."

Karen Woodson but it is a non smoking community...we fix the problem right away with..non smoking lease violation letters..no longer a problem!

Elaine Rizzo yes, we do that also.

Ban smoking in the building, fine those who do and evict with proper notice.

It usually travels through plumbing. Everyone has suggested the lease aspects already…But while waiting for a full remedy of the situation, having residents in the affected units block off drains can help with it become overwhelming in their unit.

Meghan Foster No offense intended, but there is absolutely no way that weed smell can transfer through the plumbing.  gaps in the sheet rock around supply or drain pipes, absolutely. But not the actual pipes. 

Kevin Barré the advice was based on experience, so no offense taken. Odors we’re reduced significantly when the sink and bathtub drain were covered with rubber seals.

Because it's not an aggressive substance, i try to be calm about it and talk to the resident. Actual conversation: "Look, I'm not judging, but what you're doing is prohibited by law. You share space with other people - families, nurses, teachers. Some people can lose their jobs smelling like pot, and the odor is saturating their homes. It's so bad that i have people asking for the non emergency police number. You're gonna get caught. I need you to stop or give your notice to move out "

I’ve found at work and at home many times it is not smoke. Often times the smells are coming from the marijuana buds. If not stored in specifically designed containers the smell is overwhelming.

Although it is legal where I am, our lease has an addendum that everyone signs stating we follow federal law and it is still not allowed. Additionally, we are a smoke free community and our addendum has a $250 fine for violating the policy. We give 2 chances and then evict. Post a 48 hour notice of intent to enter. You will be able to know pretty quickly if they are smoking in the home. You may also see signs of it such as ashes, butt’s, etc.

If they share an adjoining chase wall, seal around all plumbing (mainly under sinks) in both units. We use spray foam gap filler. And yes, if they have a license let them know that they will have to use other forms that do not infringe on 'the rights and quiet enjoyment' of their neighbors home. That and alerting our Courtesy Officer to keep an eye on it and talk to them fixes most of our issues!

Well what if they have a marijuana script? Still disturbing peaceful enjoyment? Wouldn't want that legal issue, kinda like a barking dog who is an ESA.

What are the city's guidelines for the distance smokers need to be from a door?

My neighbors both smoke skunk weed and honest to God, they both try to cover it up with cook food that smells like garlic pork. So I don't know what to do. We thought a lot of making police reports, but the thing is they cover it up with this extremely strong food smell.

This is the only wise comment here.

It is but we use the Blue Moon (NAA) lease and there is an addendum that it’s still not permitted in our property. Even medical marijuana is not permitted.

Yes. Seeping marijuana has been a problem in my apartment complex. I didn't know that I have an allergic reaction to marijuana smoke until a smoking tenant moved in. I was awakened in my sleep to burning, watery eyes and a dry irritated throat. My bedroom was filled with the smell of weed. I send complaints to management and they send out notifications stating that the smell of "smoke" has been reported rather than naming the odor. It seems as if they are afraid to use the word "marijuana." It's very frustrating because violators are not being held responsible.

I'm like you, Karma. I can tell the instant they start smoking weed...my throat starts burning, I start coughing. And it stinks! I'm a Registered Nurse and subject to drug tests. I wonder if my clothes/hair might reek of this stuff. Scares me to death that I might lose my license over a neighbor smoking weed in a "smoke-free" complex. I've lived in this same apt for over 10 years and never had this issue until these new people moved in above me. Complained to mgt a couple of months ago, it stopped for a time, and now it's back.