Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jul 2012
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Ken Gallinger

BACKYARD POT-SMOKING THREATENS TO COME BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS

Q: Our neighbours are potheads. They smoke marijuana on their deck and
the smell wafts over to our backyard. I play outside with my daughters
and have to go inside when the smoking starts. Other than this, they
are good neighbours who never cause any trouble whatsoever. I feel an
obligation to report illegal drug use to the police, but my husband
says the police have more important matters these days. Can you
provide some guidance?

A: OK, so this is the third letter in a year, from different people,
with exactly the same problem! Either your neighbours are smoking up
one heck of a storm, or this behaviour is more common that one might
think.

You have two problems - legal and social. By combining them, you are
making things more complicated than they need to be.

Yes, your neighbours are breaking the law, and yes, many readers of
this column believe one should run to the police every time one spots
a misdemeanour. But I see it like this - if a guy zips by on Highway
400 going 120 in the passing lane, he's breaking the law. If another
guy goes by me going 180, weaving from lane to lane, he's also
breaking the law. I'm not going to call 911 to report the first guy.
If I did, I'd be on my cell all the way to Barrie. But I am going to
report the second guy. He's putting me and everyone else at risk by
his stupid behaviour, and I want him off the road, a.s.a.p.

There's a difference between responsible citizenship and vigilantism.
Responsible citizens keep an eye out for threatening or dangerous
behaviour, and report it to authorities. Vigilantes spend their lives
in a holier-than-thou quest to root out evil wherever it may be found
- - and we live in a world where it can be found damned near everywhere.

So I'm with your husband. With people getting shot every weekend, a
few potheads smoking up on their back porch is so far down the police
priority list, it's not worth the call. Besides, for all you know,
they might have a licence for medical marijuana and be smoking it legally
=2E

With that out of the way, you are left with a simpler problem. These
are, by your own testimony, good neighbours. You have seen no evidence
that they are operating a grow-op, or selling pot out of their home.

So I suggest you walk next door, ring the bell, and explain, as
politely and non-confrontationally as possible, that their smoke is
bothering you as it drifts over the fence. Point out that you play
outside with your daughters, and worry about them inhaling second-hand
smoke =C2=85 especially smoke that smells funny. Maybe take some brownies

as a peace offering (the potheads in my circle have a lovely, mellow
sense of humour). They likely have no idea their smoke is bothering
you - and won't risk further problems once they know that you know
what they're up to.

Frankly (and yes, this comment will make some people mad), given all
the violence in this city, you can do worse than a few quiet potheads
living next door. Peace, baby, peace.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt