Do personal freedoms end when smoking pot disturbs neighbors? What’s the balance with others’ well-being, and how can that be achieved?
Cannabis is legal in some form in 40 of the 50 states — including for recreational use in 24 of them. So, in general, your neighbors are doing nothing criminally wrong when they step outside their homes and take a few hits, or even many hits.
But, man, does it ever stink.
The somewhat skunky odor can hang in the air for hours, depending on factors like wind, humidity, temperature, and the amount of weed smoked. Not everyone in the neighborhood wants to smell it, and for some people, more than the ability to enjoy the outdoor air may be at stake.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says secondhand cannabis smoke contains many of the same toxic and cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco — some in higher amounts — but also notes that more research is needed.
A main concern is the fine particulate matter — microscopic particles 2.5 micrometers in diameter that can get deep into the lungs and even into the bloodstream — found in secondhand smoke. Over time, this exposure can lead to serious health issues, including heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections.
Many scientific studies on the effects of secondhand marijuana smoke are focused on unventilated places, such as residential dwellings. Research is more limited on the effect of secondhand marijuana smoke in outdoor spaces.
A 2023 observational study focused on outdoor secondhand exposure on the golf course, a popular public location to smoke marijuana. Field studies were conducted at 10 San Francisco Bay Area over six months to assess how frequently people may encounter marijuana smoke on the course and the typical levels of PM2.5. The study showed that PM2.5 exposure exceeded the level reported to cause irritation to nonsmokers in 21 of the 23 real-world encounters.
Given all that, we’re asking for Block Talk, Patch’s exclusive neighborhood etiquette column:
Does the personal freedom to smoke pot end when it negatively impacts neighbors?
What’s the correct balance between personal freedoms and community well-being, and what’s the best way to achieve that?
Just fill out the form below. As always, we don’t collect email addresses.
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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