How to Stop the Weed Smell Coming From the Neighbors

If you’re trying to figure out how to stop the weed smell coming from the neighbors, you’re not alone. This has become a surprisingly common issue for people living in apartments, condos, or other shared-wall spaces. Cannabis is legal in more places than ever, and plenty of people use it responsibly in the privacy of their own homes. We fully support that. But when that smoke starts slipping into your living room or bedroom, it can quickly become a problem.

We don’t think marijuana use should be shamed or criminalized, and we’re not here to police what anyone does in their own space. Still, when you’re living wall to wall with someone, habits like smoking can affect more than just the person lighting up. This guide is for people who want to breathe clean air in their own unit without causing drama or starting a fight with a neighbor.

We’ll walk through some ways to stop or reduce the smell from your side first, ideally without ever needing to knock on a door or file a complaint. If that doesn’t work, we’ll also cover how to talk to your neighbor in a respectful way, and what to do if things still don’t improve.

Article highlights

• Tips to stop weed odor before escalating the issue
• Ways to talk to your neighbor without creating tension
• What to do when nothing else works
• Information on marijuana legality and its impact on shared housing

How to Stop the Weed Smell Coming From the Neighbors

1. Figure out where the smell is coming from

Before you can fix anything, try to figure out how the smell is getting in. In apartments, odors can travel through vents, electrical outlets, baseboard gaps, windows, under doors, or even shared HVAC systems. You might not see an obvious path, but the air always finds a way.

Do a walk-through of your space and note where the smell hits hardest. You might need to check at different times of day, especially if your neighbor has a smoking routine. Identifying the strongest points of entry will help you focus your efforts instead of randomly trying to block everything at once.

It’s not the most glamorous process, but locating the source gives you control. Once you know how the smell is getting in, you can start doing something about it.

2. Seal up gaps and leak points

Once you’ve narrowed down where the smell is entering, it’s time to seal things up. A door draft blocker is one of the cheapest and most effective tools, especially for front doors or bedroom doors facing a shared hallway. You can also use weather stripping around windows or sliding glass doors to close off little gaps.

If your building allows, apply removable caulk or foam gaskets around outlets, baseboards, and vent covers. These are places people often forget, but they can leak air, and odor, like crazy. Window insulation film can also help if you’re dealing with old, leaky panes.

These fixes won’t completely block everything, but they can dramatically reduce how much weed smell gets into your apartment. Think of them as the first line of defense.

3. Filter and freshen your air

If sealing isn’t enough, you’ll need something that actively removes odor from the air. That’s where a good air purifier comes in. Look for one with a HEPA filter and an activated carbon layer. The HEPA takes care of particles, while the carbon handles the smell.

Place the purifier in the room where the smell tends to settle. Run it during the hours your neighbor usually smokes if you’ve noticed a pattern. Keep doors and windows closed while it’s running so it can cycle the air properly.

You can also add natural odor absorbers like baking soda bowls or bamboo charcoal bags in problem corners. These won’t remove everything, but they’ll help take the edge off until the purifier kicks in.

4. Try masking it, if it’s only occasional

Not every case is chronic. If the smell is only coming through once in a while, you might be able to get by with some masking techniques. Simmering cinnamon sticks or citrus peel on the stove works surprisingly well. Essential oil diffusers can also help, especially with peppermint or eucalyptus.

Another option is to burn a candle or wax melt with a strong scent. Try not to go overboard though — layering too many smells on top of each other can just make things worse.

These are short-term fixes, not solutions, but they can make a big difference in your mood and air quality if the smell is only an occasional nuisance.

5. Talk to your neighbor kindly

So you’ve tried everything, and the problem is chronic (pun intended.) At this point, it might be time approach your neighbor and have a real conversation. It’s easy to feel frustrated, but try not to go in with a hostile attitude. Chances are, your neighbor doesn’t even realize the smell is affecting you.

Start with a low-key comment or knock on the door when things are calm. Something like, “Hey, I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I’ve been getting a pretty strong smell of weed drifting into my unit. Is there any chance we can figure out a way to keep it contained?”

If you want to disarm the situation a bit, bring cookies or something. Seriously. It’s a gesture of goodwill, and who doesn’t enjoy delicious snacks. You’re more likely to find a solution if you approach the conversation like a neighbor, not a judge.

Offer some possible solutions if they seem receptive

When you bring it up, it helps to have a few ideas ready just in case your neighbor is open to fixing the problem, but doesn’t know how. You’re not trying to tell them how to live, just offering a few easy options they might not have considered.

For example, they could smoke near a window with a fan blowing outward to push the smoke outside instead of into shared walls. If they’re willing, switching to vaping indoors can also make a huge difference in terms of smell. Some folks even use pocket-sized smoke filters, like a Smoke Buddy or similar, to exhale through and keep things contained.

You could also mention that sealing up their own door with a draft blocker would help keep the smell from drifting into the hallway or nearby units. It’s an easy fix and doesn’t require any real effort. Framing these suggestions casually, like “Hey, maybe a window fan or a little filter setup might help,” can make the conversation feel helpful instead of confrontational.

6. Escalate, but respectfully

If nothing changes, it’s reasonable to get your landlord, property manager, or HOA involved. You don’t need to make a huge deal out of it, but you are entitled to enjoy your home without being overwhelmed by someone else’s smoke.

Keep a record of when the smell occurs and what you’ve tried. This includes sealing steps, communication attempts, and any other mitigation efforts. Documentation will help if the issue continues and you need help from building management.

Some leases have no-smoking clauses, even in legal states. Others include general nuisance policies. Either way, your management team may have tools you don’t… and they’re less likely to ignore a documented, polite request.

7. Know when it’s time to move on

Sometimes, no matter what you do, the problem just doesn’t go away. Maybe your neighbor refuses to work with you. Maybe your building isn’t airtight enough to fully stop the smell. If that’s the case, it might be time to seriously consider relocating.

This isn’t admitting defeat. It’s choosing your peace of mind over constant frustration. Living in a space that stresses you out every day isn’t worth it, especially if the smell is giving you headaches or anxiety. So unless you want to walk around your house with a gas mask on everyday, you may need to seriously consider your options.

If you like your complex, you could ask to transfer to another unit further away. Otherwise, it might be time to start exploring new places with better insulation or no-smoking policies in place.

Where is marijuana legal?

As of now, marijuana is fully legal for recreational use in over 20 U.S. states including California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Dozens more allow it for medical use, and the number continues to grow each year.

Even in legal states, there are restrictions. Most local laws prohibit smoking in public spaces, and landlords often have the right to ban smoking on their properties altogether. Just because your neighbor is smoking legally doesn’t mean it’s allowed under your building’s rules.

This context is important because it shapes what your landlord or property manager can and cannot do when complaints come in. Knowing the legal status in your state can help you plan your next move.

THCa and other legal cannabis forms in non-legal states

Even in states where marijuana is technically not legal, a loophole has made cannabis-like products widely available. THCa, which is a legal hemp-derived cannabinoid, converts into THC when heated and when smoked, it smells and behaves just like regular marijuana.

This means that even in non-legal states, your neighbor might be smoking a perfectly legal product that smells just as strong. THCa flower is now sold in stores and online, often marketed as “compliant” under the 2018 Farm Bill.

From your perspective as a neighbor, the source doesn’t really matter. The smell is the same, and the effect on your air quality is identical. But knowing this can explain why you’re dealing with it even in states where marijuana isn’t technically legalized yet.

So when you combine the states where marijuana is fully legal with the ones where loophole products like THCa are common, the reality is that most states now have people dealing with smoky neighbors. Whether it’s legal or ‘legal enough,’ the smell is still making its way through the walls.

Final thoughts

Dealing with cannabis odor from neighbors is a tricky situation. You’re not trying to stop anyone from enjoying their own home, you just want to be able to enjoy yours, too. By starting with small, respectful steps, you give yourself the best chance of solving the issue without creating unnecessary tension.

From sealing leaks to purifying air to having a grown-up conversation, there’s a lot you can try before it becomes a bigger issue. And if it does, you have options. Whether it’s talking to your landlord or eventually moving on, your peace of mind and health matter.

Hopefully, it never gets that far. With a little problem-solving and some neighborly goodwill, most of these situations can be resolved. Here’s to breathing easy again.