Police, the UK government and Crimestoppers advise that if you suspect your neighbour is smoking cannabis, you should report it to the police by calling the non-emergency 101 number or reporting it online. Cannabis possession remains a criminal offence in the UK, punishable by up to five years in prison, even though medicinal cannabis can be prescribed by specialist doctors.
Anti-social behaviour and reporting options
Police and the government consider cannabis use affecting neighbours as anti-social behaviour, which can include noise, verbal abuse, harassment and threats, drug use, causing a nuisance to neighbours, vandalism, graffiti, fly-tipping and littering, and discarding syringes or needles. You can also report cannabis use to Crimestoppers, your local council, or your landlord if you live in a council or housing association home.
When you call police on 101 or report it online, your identity will not be given away to your neighbour. A police spokesperson has previously told Reach: "We wouldn't say information has come from a neighbour as that narrows it down. We'd just say we received a call about 'x'."
What housing bodies say
The National Landlords Association says "just because someone is using the drug within their own premises doesn't make it legal. The pungent, slightly floral smell of someone smoking cannabis is often hard to disguise and most people won't want the stench creeping over into their gardens or homes".
Alliance Homes, a housing association, says: "You should always report cannabis use to the police, especially if the smell is persistent; you suspect illegal activity, such as growing or dealing cannabis; other anti-social behaviour is occurring alongside it."
Real examples and health concerns
In Wanstead, London, a man was arrested after neighbours repeatedly complained about the persistent smell of cannabis coming from his house, and police found a stash during a raid. In Woodville, Derbyshire, police raided a house and found a large-scale cannabis growing operation after a neighbour reported water pouring from the property due to a makeshift irrigation system. In Winklebury, Hampshire, a mother was caught running a cannabis factory because a neighbour reported a strong, distinctive odour.
The Lancet warns of adverse health risks of cannabis use, particularly in young people, including dependency, psychosis and schizophrenia with prolonged use, cardiovascular effects, and possible carcinogenic or genotoxic properties. Experts also warn of cannabis-related traumatic injuries and deaths, with early US data suggesting a possible increase in lethal traffic accidents after legalisation.
Cannabis is a Class B drug in the UK, and while some MPs like David Lammy have called for the market to be "legalised, regulated and taken away from crime gangs", it remains illegal primarily due to health impacts such as psychosis, schizophrenia, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, mood swings, cardiovascular issues and addiction.
