Condo Media - September 2009 - 22

ASKED & ANSWERED Smoking Issues The Marijuana Difference Q QUESTION: Several owners have complained about the distinct and, to them, unpleasant odor of marijuana emanating frequently from a unit in one of our buildings. The odor spreads throughout the hallways and into adjoining units. One owner complained to the board that the smell is making his pregnant wife ill. Some board members think they should adopt a rule prohibiting the smoking of marijuana in the community; others note that possession of less than an ounce is only a misdemeanor in Massachusetts, and are reluctant to dictate what owners A can and cannot do in their homes. What do you suggest? ANSWER: Balancing the competing rights of owners is always difficult, and complaints about odors are particularly dicey. But in this case, the balancing act is easier, because the owners who want to smoke marijuana in their unit (or anywhere else) have no right to do so. Possession of small amounts of marijuana may be a misdemeanor, but it is still a crime. One solution is to have owners who are offended by the odor call the police the next time they smell it. This is not the nicest approach, but the threat of a police report might be enough to persuade owners to indulge elsewhere. Another possibility is to approach this issue as a question about restricting smoking (i.e., Can a community association prohibit smoking in all areas, including inside owners’ units?). The answer: Yes, but most condominium law specialists agree that this goal is best achieved not by having the board adopt a rule, but by obtaining the requisite vote of owners to amend the covenants. If enough owners feel strongly about the problem, have them vote to prohibit the smoking of marijuana or smoking entirely. You don’t have to adopt a new rule or amend your association documents to deal with this problem, says Christopher Driscoll, an attorney in the Massachusetts law firm Perkins & Anctil PC; the board can simply exercise the authority it already has to enforce the “nuisance” provision found in most condominium documents. This nuisance language in master deeds states: “No unit owner shall use its unit in a manner which shall cause or permit to exist in (or emanate from) any portion of its unit or any appurtenant limited common element any nuisance, offensive noise, odor or fumes, or any condition reasonably likely to prove hazardous to health or in violation of any legal requirements.” This language also specifies that a nuisance is, essentially, anything the board defines it to be. So define marijuana odor as a “nuisance,” he suggests, and exercise the board’s authority to impose fines for violating that provision of your master deed. CM 22 CONDO MEDIA • SEPTEMBER 2009

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Condo Media - September 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - September 2009

Condo Media - September 2009
Contents
From the CED’s Desk
Editorial Board
CAI New England Chapter Partners
CAI News
CAI Regional News
Asked & Answered
Homeowner’s Corner
Renters
Management
Paint by Numbers
Vendor Spotlight
Feature
Legal
CAI-NE Fall/Winter Vendor Directory
Classified Service Directory
Advertisers Index
Condo Media - September 2009 - Condo Media - September 2009
Condo Media - September 2009 - Cover2
Condo Media - September 2009 - Contents
Condo Media - September 2009 - From the CED’s Desk
Condo Media - September 2009 - 3
Condo Media - September 2009 - CAI New England Chapter Partners
Condo Media - September 2009 - 5
Condo Media - September 2009 - CAI News
Condo Media - September 2009 - 7
Condo Media - September 2009 - 8
Condo Media - September 2009 - 9
Condo Media - September 2009 - 10
Condo Media - September 2009 - 11
Condo Media - September 2009 - 12
Condo Media - September 2009 - 13
Condo Media - September 2009 - 14
Condo Media - September 2009 - 15
Condo Media - September 2009 - 16
Condo Media - September 2009 - 17
Condo Media - September 2009 - CAI Regional News
Condo Media - September 2009 - 19
Condo Media - September 2009 - 20
Condo Media - September 2009 - 21
Condo Media - September 2009 - Asked & Answered
Condo Media - September 2009 - 23
Condo Media - September 2009 - Homeowner’s Corner
Condo Media - September 2009 - 25
Condo Media - September 2009 - Renters
Condo Media - September 2009 - 27
Condo Media - September 2009 - Management
Condo Media - September 2009 - 29
Condo Media - September 2009 - 30
Condo Media - September 2009 - 31
Condo Media - September 2009 - Paint by Numbers
Condo Media - September 2009 - 33
Condo Media - September 2009 - 34
Condo Media - September 2009 - 35
Condo Media - September 2009 - 36
Condo Media - September 2009 - 37
Condo Media - September 2009 - 38
Condo Media - September 2009 - 39
Condo Media - September 2009 - Vendor Spotlight
Condo Media - September 2009 - 41
Condo Media - September 2009 - Feature
Condo Media - September 2009 - 43
Condo Media - September 2009 - Legal
Condo Media - September 2009 - 45
Condo Media - September 2009 - 46
Condo Media - September 2009 - CAI-NE Fall/Winter Vendor Directory
Condo Media - September 2009 - 48
Condo Media - September 2009 - 49
Condo Media - September 2009 - 50
Condo Media - September 2009 - 51
Condo Media - September 2009 - 52
Condo Media - September 2009 - 53
Condo Media - September 2009 - 54
Condo Media - September 2009 - 55
Condo Media - September 2009 - 56
Condo Media - September 2009 - Classified Service Directory
Condo Media - September 2009 - Advertisers Index
Condo Media - September 2009 - 59
Condo Media - September 2009 - 60
Condo Media - September 2009 - 61
Condo Media - September 2009 - 62
Condo Media - September 2009 - 63
Condo Media - September 2009 - 64
Condo Media - September 2009 - Cover3
Condo Media - September 2009 - Cover4
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