Living in a Cannabis-Friendly Condominium

The email from the building management had an innocuous subject line.

It read: Owner Survey.

Typically, surveys are not my thing; but this one was different. The building management rarely sent surveys out. As I read through the questionnaire and the attached “explanatory letter,” I realized that it was a feeler of sorts. The condo board was trying to get a sense of the impact the cannabis legalization could have on our building.

It was a “to be or not to be” kind of survey.

In short, it was a question: Should our condominium building be cannabis-friendly?

Or, not.

Ten More Things About Condo Living That You Need to Know

This is probably a good time to get some disclosures out of the way. Recently, I picked up a few cannabis stocks as “speculative buys.” So, you could say that I have a vested interest in the well-being of the legalized — medical and recreational — marijuana industry in Canada, albeit a tiny one. I had passed up on other such opportunities in the past.

Who is to say that my weed stocks won’t turn out to be an Amazon or an Apple in the future?

Gordon Gekko comes to mind.

But this post is not about the future of marijuana stocks; or my investment acumen. It is about the impact of legalization of cannabis on the lives of ordinary people, especially condo dwellers in Canada, like me.

Consider this: Effective October 17, 2018, recreational marijuana becomes legal in Canada. People are legally permitted to smoke pot in their homes, patios, and balconies. If you live in a condo or an apartment, residents can light up in their private units, balconies, and other designated smoking areas in and around the building, entirely legally.

And therein comes the rub.

Imagine friends and family visiting you in your condominium building where the hallways reek of weed. To compound the issue, your neighbor could take advantage of the “four plants” rule that permits individuals to cultivate four marijuana plants at home.

I haven’t even begun to break down the implications of a small grow-op next door. But even if a tiny percentage of the residents decide to try their hands at it, the impact on shared cost components such as water and electricity could be substantial. An imperfect amateur closet growing operation could lead to water damage, pests, and mold that hurt the building.

So, if my first reaction to the issue is, “not in my backyard!” you will understand.

But, my opinion is only one among a community of condo-owners who may have differing views on the issue. And then there are legal ramifications of denying something that has judicial approval.

You could say that I am conflicted.

I am not opposed to the legalization of recreational marijuana. I believe in the “live and let live” philosophy. If my neighbour enjoys smoking weed, that’s his or her business. But, if the hallway outside my unit smells of cannabis, or water seeps down from a grow above, that would be a concern. Strong cooking odours from an adjacent unit can be a nuisance, but cannabis smoke compounds it with the added stigma.

Perhaps in a few years, we will start accepting marijuana smells as normal, at least as acceptable as the smell of cigarettes. But we are not there yet.

And that brings me back to the survey.

A building-wide “no-smoking” policy may be the only option to prevent cannabis smoke emanating from the resident’s units. A no-smoking rule would automatically translate to “no-cannabis smoking,” taking care of the potential problem. That may not sit well with the existing cigarette-smokers in the building. They would have to be grandfathered.

A smoke-free building policy does not bother me; I am a non-smoker. Cannabis connoisseurs will have to explore other options — edibles, beverages, gummy bears, and others — that don’t necessarily involve smoke and the associated smells.

Perhaps it is a selfish position to take.

Somehow, I don’t see “420 friendly” as a real-estate listing feature that will appeal to mainstream buyers yet. On the other hand, smoke-free buildings may become premium residential options of the future.

I may be making a mountain out of a molehill here.

Not everyone is waiting for October to come around so that they can start throwing marijuana parties in their homes. However, the legalization of weed can be expected to bring up some expected and unexpected consequences.

One thing is for sure: if you live in a condominium building, you have some choices to make.

Time to update the post that I titled “Ten things about downsizing to a condo…”