Neighbors marijuana smoke coming in my apartment

[FlyingSquirrel7]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington

My new neighbors in the apartment unit below me are smoking marijuana, which is a violation of the lease for this complex - regardless of the WA state law, this property manager follows federal law and that is clearly stated in the lease. That's not the real issue. The issue is that their marijuana smoke and smell comes into my apartment through the fireplace, vents, and from outside the windows and doors. The smell and smoke are what bother me because I have to breathe it and I don't want to.

I told the apartment manager and she said it's hard to prove that they are smoking marijuana, and they need more than just my claim.

I posted an anonymous letter to the neighbors politely explaining the issue and respectfully requesting that they somehow stop the smoke from coming out of their apartment into other people's apartments. Later that day as I was leaving my apartment I could hear the neighbors laughing about the letter and making fun of it.

My main goal is to stop the smoke and smell from their marijuana from coming into my apartment (I don't care if they smoke weed as long as it doesn't affect me). If that means they need to be evicted, so be it. That would require the apartment complex management or someone with authority to be 100% certain that this person is smoking weed in their apartment, AND the apartment employee/manager would actually need to care enough to do what's needed to get these people in trouble. I have a feeling they'd rather get rent payments than kick them out.

I am not sure what the laws are about this situation and what the best way is for me to get help on it.

 

[TheGeekess]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington

My new neighbors in the apartment unit below me are smoking marijuana, which is a violation of the lease for this complex - regardless of the WA state law, this property manager follows federal law and that is clearly stated in the lease. That's not the real issue. The issue is that their marijuana smoke and smell comes into my apartment through the fireplace, vents, and from outside the windows and doors. The smell and smoke are what bother me because I have to breathe it and I don't want to.

I told the apartment manager and she said it's hard to prove that they are smoking marijuana, and they need more than just my claim.

I posted an anonymous letter to the neighbors politely explaining the issue and respectfully requesting that they somehow stop the smoke from coming out of their apartment into other people's apartments. Later that day as I was leaving my apartment I could hear the neighbors laughing about the letter and making fun of it.

My main goal is to stop the smoke and smell from their marijuana from coming into my apartment (I don't care if they smoke weed as long as it doesn't affect me). If that means they need to be evicted, so be it. That would require the apartment complex management or someone with authority to be 100% certain that this person is smoking weed in their apartment, AND the apartment employee/manager would actually need to care enough to do what's needed to get these people in trouble. I have a feeling they'd rather get rent payments than kick them out.

I am not sure what the laws are about this situation and what the best way is for me to get help on it.

I would suggest buying an air filtration machine for your residence.

 

[adjusterjack]

I am not sure what the laws are about this situation and what the best way is for me to get help on it.

Here's a site that explains the WA laws (and cites the statutes):

http://norml.org/laws/item/washington-penalties-2

I suggest calling the police on the chance that they might possess more than the legal limit.

Or call the DEA and get the Feds in on it.

Or ask for sharezees.

 

[DeenaCA]

Here's an informative article from a non-governmental site: https://www.ezlandlordforms.com/articles/landlord-tenant-laws/173/washington-landlord-tries-to-ban-marijuana-and-kicks-a-hornets-nest-of-legal-questions/

And then there is the untested question of enforcement, even if the landlord did catch the tenant green-handed. No Washington landlords have yet tried to evict tenants for the recreational use of marijuana, so the courts have yet to rule on the matter.

If that means they need to be evicted, so be it. That would require the apartment complex management or someone with authority to be 100% certain that this person is smoking weed in their apartment, AND the apartment employee/manager would actually need to care enough to do what's needed to get these people in trouble. I have a feeling they'd rather get rent payments than kick them out.

The managers may not be interested in evicting your neighbors over this issue, regardless of your wishes. You might consider moving to a single-family home at the end of your lease term.

 

[FarmerJ]

When you wrote >The issue is that their marijuana smoke and smell comes into my apartment through the fireplace, vents,< did you bother to learn if your city has ordinances that require that there be no air flowing from one rental unit to another via vents or ductwork of some kind ?