What to do if your neighbour is smoking cannabis
DESPITE being classed as an illegal drug in the UK, you may find yourself smelling cannabis quite frequently - probably more so in Bristol than many other towns and cities.
Smoking cannabis, or even being in possession of it unless you have a valid prescription, is still illegal in this country - despite the number of people who smoke it without seeming concerned about being caught. It is considered a Class B drug and usually leaves a strong smell that lingers in the air.
There are a number of sustained efforts going on to fully decriminalise the drug in the UK, but none have been successful yet.
The movement is particularly widespread in Bristol, and every April hundreds of people gather to smoke in Castle Park to mark the so-called ‘420’ culture.
Last April a spokesperson for Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said he is “open to decriminalisation of cannabis and supports an independent commission, as proposed by the Mayor of London”. However, Downing Street said at the time that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has “absolutely no intention of legalising cannabis”.
Currently the law for Class B drugs is up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both, for anyone caught in possession. Supply and production carries a longer sentence of potentially up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
Anyone with neighbours who regularly use cannabis might be left wondering what you can do about the stink.
Below are the rules and some of the key things you can do if you suspect that weed is being smoked in your area:
Can people smoke cannabis on their own property legally?
The answer is no. Any suggestion that you are allowed to is an urban myth. A police spokesman said in 2018: “The possession of cannabis is an offence and will be dealt with by police.
“It is a widespread issue and we are focusing our resources to target those connected with the cultivation and dealing of the drug to help crack down on the issue. We would encourage anyone who suspects drug activity in their community to contact us.”
If I call the police, will my neighbours know it was me?
A spokesman said at the time that police would “never give away a caller’s identity”. She said: “We wouldn’t say information has come from a neighbour as that narrows it down. We’d just say we received a call.” She added that officers on patrol might also use tip-offs to inform where they go on patrol.
If they were to smell the cannabis themselves, they might knock on the door and broach the subject that way. She added that people could always call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if they wanted to remain anonymous throughout the process.
What will happen to my neighbours if I report them?
The police spokesman said this could depend on a number of variables, including the amount of cannabis, and whether someone has had any previous convictions.
In Avon and Somerset, the policing area covering Bristol, the majority of cannabis cases that the Post reports on in the crown court involve large-scale cannabis ‘farm’ production as opposed to individual possession. Last May data was shared by drugs charity Release, raising concerns about a ‘postcode lottery’ of how cannabis possession is dealt with from force to force.
One fifth of people caught with cannabis in Avon and Somerset in 2020 were charged, according to the Home Office figures - of 1,871 cannabis possession offences closed by Avon and Somerset Constabulary, 363 resulted in a charge or summons.
Avon and Somerset’s website states: “If you suspect someone is using, dealing or growing drugs, such as cannabis, in your neighbourhood, report it to us.”