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Your rights if you're fed up of smelling cannabis smoke next door

Cannabis smoking and possession without a valid prescription is illegal in the UK despite the number of people who smoke it without seeming concerned about being caught.

The Class B drug - more commonly known as weed - usually leaves a strong, unmistakable smell that lingers in the air. You may find yourself smelling it quite frequently depending where you live.

In residential and business premises up and down the county, gangs of criminals and individuals set up growing factories to produce the class B drug. Many farms feature sophisticated growing set-ups using stolen electricity and dodgy wiring and often trafficked individuals are placed into the factory to take care of the illegal crop.

Currently the law for Class B drugs is up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both, for anyone caught in possession. Supply and production carries a longer sentence of potentially up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

There are a number of sustained efforts going on to fully decriminalise the drug in the UK, but none have been successful. Downing Street said last year that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has “absolutely no intention of legalising cannabis”.

Anyone with neighbours who regularly use cannabis might be left wondering what you can do about the stink. Below are the rules and some of the key things you can do if you suspect that weed is being smoked in your area, reports BristolLive.

The answer is no. Any suggestion that you are allowed to is an urban myth. A police spokesman told Derbyshire Live in 2018: "The possession of cannabis is an offence and will be dealt with by police.

"It is a widespread issue and we are focusing our resources to target those connected with the cultivation and dealing of the drug to help crack down on the issue. We would encourage anyone who suspects drug activity in their community to contact us."

If I call the police, will my neighbours know it was me?

A spokesman said at the time that police would "never give away a caller's identity". She said: "We wouldn't say information has come from a neighbour as that narrows it down. We'd just say we received a call." She added that officers on patrol might also use tip-offs to inform where they go on patrol.

If they were to smell the cannabis themselves, they might knock on the door and broach the subject that way. She added that people could always call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if they wanted to remain anonymous throughout the process.

What will happen to my neighbours if I report them?

The police spokesman said this could depend on a number of variables, including the amount of cannabis, and whether someone has had any previous convictions.

In East Yorkshire, the majority of cannabis cases that Hull Live reports on in the crown court involve large-scale cannabis 'farm' production as opposed to individual possession. Last May data was shared by drugs charity Release, raising concerns about a 'postcode lottery' of how cannabis possession is dealt with from force to force.

Reference:Hull Live: :Ross Millen & Jon Macpherson & Lucy Leeson