Neighbors smoking pot - call the cops?

[TMonster]

I am totally fed up with this. One of my neighbors is smoking pot every evening this past week and its coming in through the windows or radiator vent or somewhere but its coming into my apartment. At first I noticed it when I had a window fan in. It's been very warm here lately. I figured okay, its sucking up the smoke and bringing it in. I shut off the fan, its still coming through. I took the fan out of the window and shut the window but the smell still comes through. I wake up in the morning and the entire apt smells like pot and the smell is making me dizzy.

I have a window air conditioner in one of the other windows and I don't know if its the slight gaps through there that its making its way in but I can't take out my air conditioner.

I am so upset over this I want to call the cops next time I smell the smoke. I told the super who said he will look into it but didn't do shit and isnt around when they are smoking it so it doesnt matter. I wanted to walk around the building and just sniff around and see if I can detect where its coming from but that might be potentially dangerous for me for many reasons. DH thinks I am making a big deal out of nothing and said to wait and let the super take care of it but its bothering me!

I can't sit in my own living room in the evenings and lock myself in the bedroom to avoid the smoke and when I wake up I smell it everywhere anyway.

There was a notice in the elevator a few weeks ago asking people to not smoke cigarettes in their apartments because it made a woman asthmatic and was coming in through the radiator vents. I don't know if that's the case here but I am frustrated.

The notice was torn off the next day, so I don't think sticking up a notice will help. Should I call the cops when I smell it again and explain that I am pregnant and it's damaging to me? Will they do anything?

Any other ideas?

 

[xforuiholdonx]

Not sure if the police will actually do anything, unless the neighbors are found with an obscene amount on them, but if its bothering you, call.

 

[Mrsmac02]

I have this exact same problem and I called the police so That's exactly what I'd suggest you do!

Police here have so far been unable to catch them at it (the flat it comes from is generally occupied during the day when I'm at work) but they're usually out quick smart so will catch them soon enough.

Good luck! Xx

 

[nyaonyaokat]

I'm pretty certain that the police can't do anything due to search laws in the US... But maybe you could confront the neighbors about it? Maybe they would cover the radiator vents or just do it in another part of the house?

 

[sheldonsmommy]

If it was me, i'd either knock on my neighbours' doors (with an obvious bump showing) and just ask any smokers to please smoke pot outside because the smell is making you puke, OR I would make a note saying the same thing, being really polite, but making mention of the pot. Once people know other people know about their pot use, they get a touch more discrete about it.

 

[iluvmyfamily]

When you're able to smell your neighbor's pot so strong that it's actually affecting how you feel, that's when it becomes a problem. You can call the cops, I'm not sure if they'll actually do something about it because your neighbor is still in his own house and supposedly it's okay to smoke pot in your own home. I heard you can even grow a weed plant in your own home. But you can tell the cops you told your super who hasn't done a thing, you're expecting and you're feeling dizzy from it. Maybe the cop will actually do something. Good luck hon.

 

[nyaonyaokat]

When you're able to smell your neighbor's pot so strong that it's actually affecting how you feel, that's when it becomes a problem. You can call the cops, I'm not sure if they'll actually do something about it because your neighbor is still in his own house and supposedly it's okay to smoke pot in your own home. I heard you can even grow a weed plant in your own home. But you can tell the cops you told your super who hasn't done a thing, you're expecting and you're feeling dizzy from it. Maybe the cop will actually do something. Good luck hon.

The cop will probably just tell them to knock it off. Unless they give the cop permission to search their home without a warrant he can't do anything about it.

 

[sheldonsmommy]

In the US and Canada, they can search if they smell or suspect anything illegal. It's pretty subjective. But they likely won't search unless they think there's a lot of pot in there, because it's a lot of paperwork involved.

 

[surprisedmama]

I have a brother-in-law who lives in NYC who had a neighbor in his building smoking crack or meth or something. He kept complaining and calling whoever he could think of, but nothing was ever done. He ended up having to move because the smell made him so sick. By the end, he was sleeping in a closet because it was the only place in his apartment that didn't have a vent.

I'd keep complaining.

 

[sheldonsmommy]

And it's still illegal to smoke it in your home, definitely illegal to have a plant, and illegal to own bongs and pipes (if they have weed resin and proven to have been used smoke pot with).

 

[Dream.dream]

You can't actually do anything. You can call the landlord and if the building is non smoking they can get them for that

However police can't do anything unless they are outside and the police actually catch them doing it . And even then of they only have a small amount they can't charge them.

 

[Amsan]

I'd definitely do something about it. Not too sure I personally would ask them depending on the type of person that's living there, as you don't know how they'd react especially you being pregnant. BUT, since the OH doesn't think its a big deal he might not ask on behalf of you? If you do try that approach and it doesn't work, I would barf in a bucket and set it outside their door every day until they stopped

 

[beagleowner]

Normally I would suggest talking to them about it before I called the cops but it sounds like you don't know who it is. How many people could it be? A we talking like any of four apartments, or any of 40?

 

[Mrs.Mcguin]

This is a tricky one. Personally, I'm not against people smoking pot but I've been in your situation before. I don't smoke pot and there is nothing more I hate then to have my own home filled of pot and/or cigarette smoke...especially because I have children.

If it is something you can't live with..you have 3 options; bite your tongue and just put up with it. Or you can call the cops and no one even have to know its you. Or your last option is to move.

Personally..I think it's absurd to have to move

 

[nyaonyaokat]

In the US and Canada, they can search if they smell or suspect anything illegal. It's pretty subjective. But they likely won't search unless they think there's a lot of pot in there, because it's a lot of paperwork involved.

I'm thinking it's different for different States then. Where I've lived in the US the cops can't even legally search based on a smell or an anonymous tip or anything... unless there is another primary cause for the search.

I had neighbors in college that were selling what turned out to be heroin and my roomate called the cops on them. They explained that that couldn't do anything unless the cop caught them in the act or there was some sort of violent event, etc. because they can't search based on hearsay. Luckily they had an unmarked police car patrol around the apartment complex for a while and caught them doing a deal in the parking lot.

 

[AliKitts]

i would knock on the door and tell them your concern. whether the police would do anything or not i dont know, im new to america but your neighbor might have a medical card to say he can use it, but still if thats the problem then they should maybe do it outside, you shouldnt have to suffer!

 

[Mrs.Mcguin]

I've known many people to be charged with only being caught with the end of a joint. You don't have to have much on you at all.

Personally..I would not recommend talking to your neighbours about this. You don't know the type of people they are. And if you plan on doing something about it, it's best to be Discreet about it.

 

[Dream.dream]

This is a tricky one. Personally, I'm not against people smoking pot but I've been in your situation before. I don't smoke pot and there is nothing more I hate then to have my own home filled of pot and/or cigarette smoke...especially because I have children.

If it is something you can't live with..you have 3 options; bite your tongue and just put up with it. Or you can call the cops and no one even have to know its you. Or your last option is to move.

Personally..I think it's absurd to have to move

Moving comment reminded me . The other tenants may be on breach of their lease because they are "disturbing your peaceful use of the premises"

You landlord actually has to deal with it . Otherwise you can report the landlord , if they still do nothing you can move and have them sued for the cost of the move.

It's a bit drastic but maybe informing your landlord of this would make them take action

 

[Mrs.Mcguin]

This is a tricky one. Personally, I'm not against people smoking pot but I've been in your situation before. I don't smoke pot and there is nothing more I hate then to have my own home filled of pot and/or cigarette smoke...especially because I have children.

If it is something you can't live with..you have 3 options; bite your tongue and just put up with it. Or you can call the cops and no one even have to know its you. Or your last option is to move.

Personally..I think it's absurd to have to move

Moving comment reminded me . The other tenants may be on breach of their lease because they are "disturbing your peaceful use of the premises"

You landlord actually has to deal with it . Otherwise you can report the landlord , if they still do nothing you can move and have them sued for the cost of the move.

It's a bit drastic but maybe informing your landlord of this would make them take action

That's a very good point. I don't understand why the landlord hasn't done anything about it. Maybe there isn't anything the cops can do instantly but the landlord does have the right to evict.

 

[sheldonsmommy]

In the US and Canada, they can search if they smell or suspect anything illegal. It's pretty subjective. But they likely won't search unless they think there's a lot of pot in there, because it's a lot of paperwork involved.

I'm thinking it's different for different States then. Where I've lived in the US the cops can't even legally search based on a smell or an anonymous tip or anything... unless there is another primary cause for the search.

I had neighbors in college that were selling what turned out to be heroin and my roomate called the cops on them. They explained that that couldn't do anything unless the cop caught them in the act or there was some sort of violent event, etc. because they can't search based on hearsay. Luckily they had an unmarked police car patrol around the apartment complex for a while and caught them doing a deal in the parking lot.

I definitely don't know about the individual laws. But as for the cop being able to smell it (not for the hearsay evidence), it may be legal to search the residence, but it doesn't mean he/she is going to. Likely they would just find some high dude sitting on his couch watching a chick flick and eating chips. So it's not worth it.

But, TMonster, maybe if you called the police station (not 911) and asked them to talk to your neighbours for you, they could give them a good scare?