Landlord question

bseabuds

Member
So I am a medical marijuana patient in WA state, where marijuana is now legal. I live in an apartment building that has a no-smoking policy. I abide by this policy. When I want to medicate I go out for a walk with my dog.
Here is the problem: I keep my supply in mason jars, and have to open them now and then to let them air out. The other day, while I was not at home, my landlord called and said I was not allowed to smoke in my apartment. I was caught off guard by the call, and it took me a moment to realize that she was accusing me of having smoked in my room. In the moment it took me to realize this, I said to her, "Okay." To which she replied that she had smelled "it", and that "it" was strong and that if I wanted to smoke I had to do it twenty-five feet from the building. Again, I said to her, "Okay." And that ended the conversation.
What I gather is that, earlier in the day, when I was at home, she, or one of my neighbors, smelled me airing out my jars and took the smell to mean smoke. Obviously this is a very poor and unsound conclusion--to assume that smelling weed means weed is being smoked. But on the other hand, I can understand my landlords perspective: that if a tenant complains to her about the smell, that complaint, that dissatisfaction, has the potential to threaten her income (i.e. if the tenants, who are mostly families with kids, complain and decide to move out, then she has a vacancy to fill). I do not feel it is wise to argue with my landlord. I do not want to be evicted. I have taken steps to insure that when I open my jars I run fans and the oven vent, but still, the situation has me concerned. My question is, what are my rights here?
Marijuana is newly legal, so my feeling is that a lot of people have not really adjusted to that yet, and still think of/ operate with the idea that it is illegal. Nonetheless, the law is the law. And in possessing marijuana as a medical marijuana patient (with all of my certifications on hand) I am not on the wrong side of it.
Any advice would be appreciated. I'm not planning to do anything like talk or complain, and I think that airing with the vent has solved the problem. Still, I'm curious, because I do not want to find myself evicted or create any unnecessary conflict.
Also, this lady is a white lady (uptight and white), so she has her whiteness going for her too. Which is/ has always been a little bit intimidating to me.
 

droopy107

Well-Known Member
I say if you're ABSOLUTELY sure she was referring to weed and wasn't confusing someone else's tobacco smoke with it being your tobacco smoke, then the next time you see her you should let her know that you weren't smoking it on the property, and that you intend to respect that rule. I find people tend to respond well to others who make the effort to let them know they get where they are coming from.

That white lady can't be too uptight if she did't drop on the deck and flop like a fish upon smelling your stash. Even with weed being legal in your state, I'll bet more landlords than not would react much differently, given the situation. Add kids into the equasion and Reefer Madness begins to rear it's ugly head.
 

bseabuds

Member
Wise words droopy. That's the approach I think I will take if the situation arises again. Also, I do know that it was the smell of my medicine that triggered the phone call because she said she could smell it coming from my door.
 

dtowndabber

Well-Known Member
That's a good approach droopy. Also it is very common for an untrained nose to mistake the fresh smell for smoked smell. Many times I've been at a friends house (back in the day) breaking up a joint and had their parents yell "you better not be smoking in my house!"
 

Robs

Well-Known Member
I'd tell her it was someone else's appt. she was smelling. If she argued the point I'd tell her to kiss my ass & mind her own damn business.
 

Ginomazza

New Member
Most of the landlords doesn't allow to smoke in their apartments, and According to me you must have clear all the terms and conditions before taking it on rent.
 

Jar Man

Active Member
There are more than a few waiting with baited breath to lash out at marijuana's popularity of late who remember the days when they could more easily inflict paranoia when more public sentiment was on their side. Smoking or not, if she smells pot and has an axe to grind, she'll say whatever suits her to get u outa' there if possible by stressing u out. To say nothing about how the unspoken racial issue has peaked once again. U seem to fit a profile to her she wants to change or doesn't want around. Particularly if other tenants are white and uptight too.
 
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