Why are people allowed to reek of marijuana in public, even around children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think most people realized that legalizing marijuana would make certain places stink, and expose children to dangerous levels of smoke. Probably because most people didn't imagine others could smoke that much.

I'm all for allowing patients more access to medical-use marijuana. But making it legal for everyone? Eh, what a hassle. I feel the same for alcohol, BTW. It's about the same level of toxicity.

By smelling it on the street?????? You can't be serious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP don’t try to reason with these pot smokers. They’ve killed their brain cells and can’t critically think through the issues. Hey morons - no one cares that you smoke pot. What we do care about is that you do it in public ( illegal and it freaking stinks) and that you do it while operating a motor vehicle ( also illegal). No moron - your right to smoke pot does not outweigh my right not to have a bunch of stoned out zombies operating a motor vehicle on the public highways absolutely putting lives at risk. Get it?

Given your use of this word, your opinion means nothing. It's far more offensive that the smell of marijuana.

[Anonymous]

What a bunch of pearl clutchers ...

[Anonymous]

Marijuana use and smell in public has truly become a public nuisance. I don't care about private, discreet, personal use of marijuana, but the open, emboldened use in public, particularly in front of children, is distasteful and dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Weed is a loser’s drug. It lowers your IQ, damages your central nervous system, and harms your dopamine system, lowering your natural motivation and list for life over time. People should learn to enjoy life without needing mental masturbation.

Caffeine, booze, and nicotine, all in strict moderation, are the holy trinity of drugs. Everything else is 🗑️.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely. Here’s the revised post with that point added—still condensed, clear, and with nlI’m genuinely frustrated with how common this has become in DC. This is not a one-time issue. I keep seeing people stepping out of cars or waiting in public spaces smelling strongly of marijuana. It is obvious they have been smoking right before or even inside the car.

Today I saw a parent with their child at a restaurant. The smell was overwhelming. It was clear they had smoked in the car and then drove there with the child. That is not just disgusting, it is dangerous.

I also went to the DMV recently and there were several people in the waiting room who reeked of marijuana. No one said anything, but it was impossible not to notice. It feels like this behavior is just being accepted now.

Shouldn’t the smell of marijuana be probable cause to search someone or their vehicle, especially if they just got out of it? If someone reeked of alcohol and stepped out of a car with a child, they would be stopped immediately. Why is marijuana being treated differently?

This is not about personal freedom. It is about public safety, common sense, and protecting children. DC officials and police need to stop looking the other way. This is getting worse and it needs to be addressed.

Haven't you heard? Smoking is cool again, kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Used to be people reeked of tobacco smoke indoors and even in no smoking places.

Yes. And broader society largely came to agree that smoking wasn't socially acceptable. But now it's back like it's the '50s. They just switched substances. We should probably get Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man out of retirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Marijuana use and smell in public has truly become a public nuisance. I don't care about private, discreet, personal use of marijuana, but the open, emboldened use in public, particularly in front of children, is distasteful and dangerous.

But bus and dump truck exhaust is perfectly fine because I don’t see any DCUM threads about those smells. Which are actually proven to be carcinogenic far more than secondhand cannabis smell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Marijuana use and smell in public has truly become a public nuisance. I don't care about private, discreet, personal use of marijuana, but the open, emboldened use in public, particularly in front of children, is distasteful and dangerous.

But bus and dump truck exhaust is perfectly fine because I don’t see any DCUM threads about those smells. Which are actually proven to be carcinogenic far more than secondhand cannabis smell.

Don't Metro busses run on CNG and not diesel?

[Anonymous]

I live in NYC and the stench is inescapable. I find it repulsive and feel a little sorry for people who need to be stoned all of the time, but I also have no issues with legalizing it. I see it as a nuisance and not some kind of grave threat to children or our greater society.

[Anonymous]

I have no issue with legal weed, but I have a major issue with people smoking in public and in their cars. There’s no reason we can’t enforce laws against that while still having legal weed. DC (among other cities) just doesn’t like to enforce basic laws anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are allowed to reek of anything OP.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely. Here’s the revised post with that point added—still condensed, clear, and with nlI’m genuinely frustrated with how common this has become in DC. This is not a one-time issue. I keep seeing people stepping out of cars or waiting in public spaces smelling strongly of marijuana. It is obvious they have been smoking right before or even inside the car.

Today I saw a parent with their child at a restaurant. The smell was overwhelming. It was clear they had smoked in the car and then drove there with the child. That is not just disgusting, it is dangerous.

I also went to the DMV recently and there were several people in the waiting room who reeked of marijuana. No one said anything, but it was impossible not to notice. It feels like this behavior is just being accepted now.

Shouldn’t the smell of marijuana be probable cause to search someone or their vehicle, especially if they just got out of it? If someone reeked of alcohol and stepped out of a car with a child, they would be stopped immediately. Why is marijuana being treated differently?

This is not about personal freedom. It is about public safety, common sense, and protecting children. DC officials and police need to stop looking the other way. This is getting worse and it needs to be addressed.

its DC.

only the very rich and very poor go to DC

[Anonymous]

I try to avoid areas with clouds of marajuana smoke. I don't like the smell and I associate it with layabouts. It's legal and there are a LOT of legal things that I want to keep away from my kids (and me).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try to avoid areas with clouds of marajuana smoke. I don't like the smell and I associate it with layabouts. It's legal and there are a LOT of legal things that I want to keep away from my kids (and me).

You do you, but you would be absolutely shocked how many extremely productive people use THC during the day. I'm talking senior vice presidents of major organizations, big law partners, doctors, etc.