Allowing a new roommate with illegal habit?

[Lillfilly]

We have a free bedroom in our house. My boyfriend's and mine's roommate has a female friend he knows from work. They're considering letting her rent the room for several months to a year. She sounds responsible and has a steady job, but I haven't met her yet. HOWEVER, they told me that she does like to smoke pot. I personally don't have a problem with the habit itself (I think it should just be made legal and taxed for crying out loud!), but I'm worried about legal problems. 1 neighbor has children and another has influence in the area. We are also right down the street from a school, so large police presence. We don't allow smoking (anything) in the house, so she'd have to be outside, thus more likely to have someone smell it. I would also be worried about any other friends that she has who may be more hard-core in their use coming-over and stealing to supply their habits. My boyfriend did point-out that we had been considering letting a friend's brother stay with us and that he admitted he liked smoking pot but that I was fine with him moving in, so what is the difference? Well, I knew him and I completely forgot about the neighbors seeing it. I suppose I shouldn't worry until I actually meet her. Perhaps we could ask that she smoke in the bathroom with the fan on, but then I am also concerned about being exposed to high enough levels that I might test positive on a drug test. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I'm not willing to lose my job over saving 100$ in rent a month.

[Nekojin]

Two answers.

First, if it truly bothers you that much, make it clear to your boyfriend that it's a complication that you don't want to deal with, and lay it out in much the same way you have here. Potential consequences, especially ones that have a potential to cost you your house, shouldn't be brushed away lightly.

Second, if you decide that the risks are small enough, ask that the person either only smoke out back (if you have a back yard), or not smoke at the house at all. If they're smoking on the back porch (and not rolling huge cigar-sized joints), the odds that someone else would smell it in a nearby yard are pretty slim.

[HYHYBT]

With the insane forfeiture laws we have here, I wouldn't even consider risking it. (Of course, I don't know were you live. You may be in a country that doesn't have those.)

[Andara Bledin]

I would check out the laws for liability to those around.

I used to know a woman who was arrested for child endangerment issues because she was braiding the hair of the daughter of her friend at said friend's house and said friend had pot stored in her bedroom (someone had to have ratted out said friend for the police to have shown up in the first place, which is another matter entirely). Now, this was in a state with some ridiculously extreme laws regarding marijuana, but there are others with stupidly strict laws that would make it unacceptable to even take the risk.

To be honest, I'm not sure it's worth the hassle. Even if most people can't tell cloves and cigars with flavored wraps from actual pot smoke, it's still probably not worth the risk.

^-.-^

[AdminAssistant]

Not worth it, in my opinion.

[Greenday]

Don't see the worth in it. Too much potential hassle for so little gain.

[bex1218]

That type of thing is not worth the hassle. Wish it was different.

[Gravekeeper]

Not worth the risk. Especially if you're in the US. You might get away with a slap in Canada, but the laws in some states in the US are draconian to say the least. Especially if they can establish that you knew and still let them move in.

[bara]

Agreed... not worth the risk.

[draco664]

What are the drug laws like where you live? If you live in the US, the potential downsides are pretty severe. For $100 a month, it doesn't sound like it's worth the risk.

[jackfaire]

If she is willing to not do it there then I would say sure but the thing is in my personal experience you let someone who smokes pot move in on the condition they don't do it there that just means they won't do it while your in the home but will still smoke where anyone can see them and can cause you legal troubles.

[Greenday]

If she is willing to not do it there then I would say sure but the thing is in my personal experience you let someone who smokes pot move in on the condition they don't do it there that just means they won't do it while your in the home but will still smoke where anyone can see them and can cause you legal troubles.

Regardless, odds are they are going to store it at home. So if the cops follow them home, it'll be there and much trouble for everyone who lives there will ensue.

[jackfaire]

Regardless, odds are they are going to store it at home.

Exactly. That was kind of my point. You have to make sure the person is someone who happens to smoke pot versus a pot smoker who happens to do other things. I have friends that have smoked that would do so with other people but would never maintain their own stash.

It all depends on what kind of smoker this person is.