I ask Eric: I can’t enjoy my porch because the neighbors smoke

Dear Eric: We live in a suburban neighborhood where the houses are fairly close to each other. We have a very nice screened porch and large patio that we added two years ago. Typically, fall is our favorite season to be outside on our patio and we enjoy eating breakfast and dinner on our porch.

Our next door neighbors are heavy marijuana smokers and the smell from the marijuana is so strong and offensive to us that we can no longer use the outdoor spaces we used to enjoy.

They’ve been living here for about two years and while they’re reasonably friendly, they’re not particularly approachable. We smelled the weed last fall, but it was only smoked occasionally, so that wasn’t a problem.

For some reason, her marijuana smoking has increased so much this year that when my husband or I leave the house five or six times a day, the smell is unbearable.

I definitely understand that it is their right to smoke on their property and I don’t care if they choose to smoke weed. I just don’t want to smell it. I’ve thought about talking to the cannabis smokers, but I don’t know them well and have no idea how they will react.

– Smoked out

Dear Smoked Out: Part of being a good neighbor is being aware of how your way of life affects everyone else. So letting your neighbors know that you can smell their pot and would rather not do that is a good start. And this is the only way to find out how they will react. You may not realize that the smell is bothering you or that it is bothering you.

Hopefully they will make changes to resolve the issue so everyone can live together happily. However, if this is not the case, consider investing in a porch fan to purify the air. Fans that charge via solar panels are a great option because they can blow constantly without increasing your electric bill.

(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or PO Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and subscribe to his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)

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