Landlord Harassment

[hamishnotshamus]

Hi everyone,

I’m posting because I’m in a pretty horrible place with all this and I’d appreciate some support from people who understand medical cannabis and the stigma around it.

I live on a houseboat on a pontoon attached to a small campsite and marina. We’ve been here for over 11 years. It has been our home for a long time, and we’ve put a lot of ourselves into the place.

I’ve used cannabis for most of my adult life, but I’m now trying to do things properly through the legal medical route. The problem is the judgement and treatment around it has become unbearable.

The marina changed hands a few years ago, and over the last year I feel like I’ve been singled out more and more. I’ve been shouted at, made to feel uncomfortable around my own home, and now I’m being messaged on WhatsApp in a way which feels like harassment.

Today I was told someone had been asked to come near my boat and smell for cannabis, and if anything is heard or smelt again I would be evicted immediately.

I’ve already reached the point where I feel like I’m going to lose my home. That is heartbreaking, but the situation has become so stressful and unpleasant that part of me feels like leaving is the only way to protect my mental health.

I’m not trying to cause trouble. I’m trying to stay legal, manage my health, and live quietly in my own home. Being watched, judged, threatened, and messaged like this is making me feel anxious, low, and completely worn down.

Has anyone else dealt with harassment or threats around prescribed medical cannabis, especially where they live? How did you handle it?

I’d also appreciate advice on what to record, what evidence to keep, and how to respond without making things worse.

Please be kind. I’m not looking for drama. I’m just exhausted and would like to hear from people who understand.

 

[GrownHealth]

Hi everyone,

I’m posting because I’m in a pretty horrible place with all this and I’d appreciate some support from people who understand medical cannabis and the stigma around it.

I live on a houseboat on a pontoon attached to a small campsite and marina. We’ve been here for over 11 years. It has been our home for a long time, and we’ve put a lot of ourselves into the place.

I’ve used cannabis for most of my adult life, but I’m now trying to do things properly through the legal medical route. The problem is the judgement and treatment around it has become unbearable.

The marina changed hands a few years ago, and over the last year I feel like I’ve been singled out more and more. I’ve been shouted at, made to feel uncomfortable around my own home, and now I’m being messaged on WhatsApp in a way which feels like harassment.

Today I was told someone had been asked to come near my boat and smell for cannabis, and if anything is heard or smelt again I would be evicted immediately.

I’ve already reached the point where I feel like I’m going to lose my home. That is heartbreaking, but the situation has become so stressful and unpleasant that part of me feels like leaving is the only way to protect my mental health.

I’m not trying to cause trouble. I’m trying to stay legal, manage my health, and live quietly in my own home. Being watched, judged, threatened, and messaged like this is making me feel anxious, low, and completely worn down.

Has anyone else dealt with harassment or threats around prescribed medical cannabis, especially where they live? How did you handle it?

I’d also appreciate advice on what to record, what evidence to keep, and how to respond without making things worse.

Please be kind. I’m not looking for drama. I’m just exhausted and would like to hear from people who understand.

Sorry to hear this as you sound like you have a beautiful home situation apart from this one issue and you are quite within your rights to consume your medicine and unfortunately it's lingering stigma's that have caused this by the look of it.

We would suggest you contact the below group as they are experienced with cases like this involving patients rights being restricted and patients suffering as a consequence.

Medical Cannabis Support In The UK | Patient Protect

Patient Protect offers dedicated support for medical cannabis patients facing discrimination in the UK. Trust our expert guidance today.

www.patientprotect.co.uk

Also welcome to the community and I'm sure other members will chip in with their knowledge and we are a caring community and can see when some one needs help and support from like minded people

 

[Joint Account]

Hi mate,

Welcome to MedBud, I wish it was in grander circumstances.

First thing, I have no real practical advice that should be listened to.

Second thing, do they know it's medical? If they do, I would report any instance of them doing anything as harassment to the police.

Legally your medical problems and your medicine are viewed as the same. Discrimination of medication is discrimination of disability. If you have a marina and it's residents constantly making you feel uncomfortable then I feel the only step is reporting it to the police.

Let's not forget here, you are 100% in the right. Anywhere they can use an asthma inhaler you can use MC.

If they don't like smells, I would enquire as to banning other smells you don't like seeing as that's the problem here.

If you're just trying to mitigate everything, use a DHV and grab a carbon filter like a von Sploof. That will eliminate most of the smell but it seems they have decided they have it in for you regardless.

New post automatically merged: 6th Jun, 2026

And most importantly speak to your clinic! They are there to advocate for you!

New post automatically merged: 6th Jun, 2026

Familiarise yourself with this as well, it's the legal guidance surrounding MC use in buildings, with landlords, etc. is assume it applies to boats and other land owners - https://www.cicouncil.org.uk/app/up...e-of-Prescription-Cannabis-in-Buildings-1.pdf

 

[hamishnotshamus]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I thought I’d add a bit more context because the hardest part is I feel like I’ve tried to follow every rule they have given me, and each time it has made things worse.

At first I was told there was no smoking on site, not even on my own home, but I would be allowed to use my medication in an adjacent field.

That went on for a few months, but it meant I had to walk across the site in full view and sit on a bench to take my medication. It felt embarrassing and created more stigma, not less.

Then smell was mentioned once, so I invested in carbon filters and started shutting myself inside the boat. Last week I was taping up vents and locking myself in during the heat, with the boat getting dangerously hot, all because I was trying to avoid upsetting anyone.

At the same time, messages were being sent in the site WhatsApp group saying she does not care whether it is for mental health or whether it is legal, and asking other people on site to monitor and report any smell, day or night, even if it only lingers.

When I said the messages were making me ill, and explained I have a legal prescription for severe post traumatic stress disorder, the reply I got was:

“Delusional, no one else and it’s created by you my friend no one else, you are risking eviction by your actions not mine, take responsibility and don’t blame me for your actions, there will be no more communication unless we smell weed again.”

That is the bit I am struggling with most. I have tried to comply. I have tried to be discreet. I have spent money on filters. I have isolated myself inside my home. I have even put my own comfort and safety at risk during the heat.

And yet I still feel like I’m being watched, judged, and threatened.

I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m a legal medical cannabis patient trying to manage my condition quietly in my own home. I’m exhausted by it now and it feels like whatever I do will be treated as wrong.

 

[Joint Account]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I thought I’d add a bit more context because the hardest part is I feel like I’ve tried to follow every rule they have given me, and each time it has made things worse.

At first I was told there was no smoking on site, not even on my own home, but I would be allowed to use my medication in an adjacent field.

That went on for a few months, but it meant I had to walk across the site in full view and sit on a bench to take my medication. It felt embarrassing and created more stigma, not less.

Then smell was mentioned once, so I invested in carbon filters and started shutting myself inside the boat. Last week I was taping up vents and locking myself in during the heat, with the boat getting dangerously hot, all because I was trying to avoid upsetting anyone.

At the same time, messages were being sent in the site WhatsApp group saying she does not care whether it is for mental health or whether it is legal, and asking other people on site to monitor and report any smell, day or night, even if it only lingers.

When I said the messages were making me ill, and explained I have a legal prescription for severe post traumatic stress disorder, the reply I got was:

“Delusional, no one else and it’s created by you my friend no one else, you are risking eviction by your actions not mine, take responsibility and don’t blame me for your actions, there will be no more communication unless we smell weed again.”

That is the bit I am struggling with most. I have tried to comply. I have tried to be discreet. I have spent money on filters. I have isolated myself inside my home. I have even put my own comfort and safety at risk during the heat.

And yet I still feel like I’m being watched, judged, and threatened.

I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m a legal medical cannabis patient trying to manage my condition quietly in my own home. I’m exhausted by it now and it feels like whatever I do will be treated as wrong.

As much as you want to avoid confrontation I think they've forced your hand here to be honest.

I would be ringing the non-emergency line and logging every single communication as harassment. Then when they come to your home call 999 and say people are attacking you because of your disability.

If you can install cameras to capture any anti social behaviour..

Alternatively you can do nothing but I don't see this sorting itself out without the police or without you moving out.

They're bullies.

It's an horrific situation to be in mate. Have you spoken to your clinic about this at all? They will be able to help support you.

 

[Fiddlesticks]

Hi Hamish

This is a difficult case to read as there are so many different situations involved. I am sorry to read of the problems you are having and I think that more specialist advice regarding specific property rights are needed.
Firstly no matter the situation you have spelt it out clearly that this is your own private home and that you have put a lot into the area in which you live. With your condition involved it also makes sense to me that you find comfort in a more withdrawn way of living than a standard house.
So from my reading of things and where I think you need help, is in the nuances of the situation.

If you were in your own private house they would have no rights to demand anything and the police would confirm such. The problem is that your own private home is within its own mooring and therefore the laws regarding the "public spaces" of this mooring have a communal aspect.
There would be shared laws and specific clauses within this shared communal agreement that would have to be looked at but I am curious as to which of these they would want to find you in breach of.

As far as the personal harrasment situation, then this is another issue and might warrant further escalation on that grounds, but I would want to know where you stood with the shared aspect of the tenancy agreement as it applies to a boat at mooring.
I mean for perspective even homeless hostels have to try accomodate medical cannabis consumption now so there are a lot of people changing.
I am sure different councils/areas will have slightly different legislations/responsibilites too.

Just because some crazy person wants to shout at you because they dont like the smell of medication dont let them drag you into their world when you are following the law. Especially when you have listed all the times that you have attempted to accomodate their requests rather than to tell them to "go away".
I think it is useful to keep documenting things and people have given good links and resources in the thread already.

 

[Toby Trice]

Hi everyone,

I’m posting because I’m in a pretty horrible place with all this and I’d appreciate some support from people who understand medical cannabis and the stigma around it.

I live on a houseboat on a pontoon attached to a small campsite and marina. We’ve been here for over 11 years. It has been our home for a long time, and we’ve put a lot of ourselves into the place.

I’ve used cannabis for most of my adult life, but I’m now trying to do things properly through the legal medical route. The problem is the judgement and treatment around it has become unbearable.

The marina changed hands a few years ago, and over the last year I feel like I’ve been singled out more and more. I’ve been shouted at, made to feel uncomfortable around my own home, and now I’m being messaged on WhatsApp in a way which feels like harassment.

Today I was told someone had been asked to come near my boat and smell for cannabis, and if anything is heard or smelt again I would be evicted immediately.

I’ve already reached the point where I feel like I’m going to lose my home. That is heartbreaking, but the situation has become so stressful and unpleasant that part of me feels like leaving is the only way to protect my mental health.

I’m not trying to cause trouble. I’m trying to stay legal, manage my health, and live quietly in my own home. Being watched, judged, threatened, and messaged like this is making me feel anxious, low, and completely worn down.

Has anyone else dealt with harassment or threats around prescribed medical cannabis, especially where they live? How did you handle it?

I’d also appreciate advice on what to record, what evidence to keep, and how to respond without making things worse.

Please be kind. I’m not looking for drama. I’m just exhausted and would like to hear from people who understand.

Welcome to the Forums Sorry to hear about your situation, No one should ever be harassed for just trying to medicate

One word of advise though, if you combust your Flower I think the law wont be on your side as its mentioned on the packs not for combustion only for vaporizing. I don't agree that's right but I think that is the law
If you vaporize your Flower though I cant see them having a leg to stand on as you are in your own home using medication as prescribed by your Doctor.

I'm not a legal professional though so could be chatting rubbish .

Good luck with your ongoing situation.

 

[Hazy-Haze]

I'll second reporting to the police and also keeping a diary of harassment. Also tell whomever is harassing you that they are breaking the law under the equality act and might want to consult a solicitor before continuing the conversation, lest they get charged under it and potentially score a large fine or prison time (aka politely tell them to fuck off and mind their own business).

 

[Rimmerworld]

Hello

I have some points to make. When you are a legal patient you gain legal rights and protections. You can also then fall under the umbrella protections of the Equality Act and in N Ireland the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act.

(1) It is illegal to be evicted for CBPM

(2) This sounds like Harrassment

(3) You have legal protection against both

(4) The disability CBPM aspect may be a hate crime ask the police


Now you need to start recording evidence audio and photos of any letters or harassment keep a audio recorder close 24/7 to record surprise harassments. You could then go one of two eays


(1) Legal Action for Discrimination based on Disability and CBPM including harassment

Or

(2) Write a polite letter to the landlord. Stating the legal CBPM rights and explain you are being harassed and want it to stop prior to legal action. This will either scare off the landlord or they may be stupid enough to try to take further action. In that case call the police and start legal action for compensation. You can use ChatGPT and the Courts rule book and draft a pre action protocol letter warning them.


I recently faced Discrimination myself and over two years learned how to draft both a Civil Bill for County Court and the Pre Action Protocol letter and you can do it anyone can send a PAP letter. When mine was rejected, Its an easy win when someone ignored your PAP the Courts take that as a refusal to mediate and a denial of alternate dispute resolution i passed this info on to a Solicitor who recently picked up the case on legal aid i expect settlement because i learned how to draft the documents which can screw over your average layman citizen and require a solicitor to respond haha.

 

[Fiddlesticks]

Just to add something that I read from the OP was that the issue was made complicated not by Hamish consuming medicine in his own home. It was that his home is within a private marina and campsite that they do not own.

The harassment is certainly correct however if someone doesnt want you in their campsite then you have no legal right to remain at a mooring beyond the length of the contract signed originally.
I checked the standard T&C for living in a mooring as provided by the Canal and River Trust Waterside (the authority who gives the licenses for permanent water residences)

There is NOTHING that you are doing that I feel puts you in breach of these rules/laws which constitute someone losing their mooring.

https://www.watersidemooring.com/media/Terms/L2L3TCs.pdf

Again backing up others they dont really have a leg to stand on and I hope you manage to resolve this with goodwill and common sense rather than having to read the riot act.
Just by the very nature of this issue the people in question are not "landlords" its the water. Different rules, different taxation even. Whole other world.

 

[Hazy-Haze]

I get the feeling this isn't an official CRT long term mooring. It sounds more like a private marina, also given the OP said the place changed hands. CRT sites tend to be run by CRT with a permanent caretaker on site or on call, but that person is still usually a CRT employee. This sounds more like one of those random private marinas, not that it makes a massive difference in terms of the harassment or the breaches of the equality act.

 

[Fiddlesticks]

I get the feeling this isn't an official CRT long term mooring. It sounds more like a private marina,also given the OP said the place changed hands. CRT sites tend to be run by CRT with a permanent caretaker on site or on call, but that person is still usually a CRT employee. This sounds more like one of those random private marinas, not that it makes a massive difference in terms of the harassment or the breaches of the equality act.

Agreed + as I said the claim of harassment is correct. Still doesnt tie the owners to rules concerning landlords and rights of tenants established under land right acts.
There is no right to remain if you fall into dispute with owners beyond time limited contracts.

Its all mediated if anything either by the waterways agency I linked or local council if a sea marina. If in dispute.

FAQs | The Waterways Ombudsman

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about The Ombudsman and the complaints procedure

www.waterways-ombudsman.org

 

[williemed]

Do they know it’s medical/legally prescribed? You are being harassed in your own home. Call the police.

 

[Fiddlesticks]

Do they know it’s medical/legally prescribed? You are being harassed in your own home. Call the police.

However his home is not a house, its a boat and its in someone elses private property.
The harrassment may stop but the threat of eviction wont. I hope that Hamish can work this one out.

 

[williemed]

However his home is not a house, its a boat and its in someone elses private property.
The harrassment may stop but the threat of eviction wont. I hope that Hamish can work this one out.

Oh that does complicate things. My fault I didn’t read the entire thread.

 

[Joint Account]

However his home is not a house, its a boat and its in someone elses private property.
The harrassment may stop but the threat of eviction wont. I hope that Hamish can work this one out.

Oh that does complicate things. My fault I didn’t read the entire thread.

I'm not saying it doesn't complicate things but how specifically does it complicate things? I can't find anything to support or debunk for that matter.

I can't think of a single scenario, outside of it being friends doing favours (this sounds very much like a proper business set up for renting space) where you would be able to evict someone for doing a legal activity.

I've googled the shit out of it and I can't find anything remotely relating to a situation where someone rents a boat and has a dispute with the land owner.

I do have some friends I walk by regularly who lives on narrowboats, I may have to put this to them if I remember when I next see them.

 

[Fiddlesticks]

You are protected as a "land" owner with statutory rights.
Just as someone is a landlord doesnt mean that they can easily evict people from a house
Boats are different, No land rights. No council tax etc.

The land owner whom the mooring is at is protected. The only right that you have is contract law. IE the contract lease that was signed.
I do not believe that Hamish will be in breach of his contract (even though I cant see it) for his actions. Therefore you have rights to remain up to end of contract past that nothing.

The rules in the UK regarding housing are funny and archaic. Sorry for the slightly offtopic image (Not AI) but this is why you have houses built over bridges in some places as they are exempt from land laws and taxation by hilarious design.

 

[S.O.H™]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I thought I’d add a bit more context because the hardest part is I feel like I’ve tried to follow every rule they have given me, and each time it has made things worse.

At first I was told there was no smoking on site, not even on my own home, but I would be allowed to use my medication in an adjacent field.

That went on for a few months, but it meant I had to walk across the site in full view and sit on a bench to take my medication. It felt embarrassing and created more stigma, not less.

Then smell was mentioned once, so I invested in carbon filters and started shutting myself inside the boat. Last week I was taping up vents and locking myself in during the heat, with the boat getting dangerously hot, all because I was trying to avoid upsetting anyone.

At the same time, messages were being sent in the site WhatsApp group saying she does not care whether it is for mental health or whether it is legal, and asking other people on site to monitor and report any smell, day or night, even if it only lingers.

When I said the messages were making me ill, and explained I have a legal prescription for severe post traumatic stress disorder, the reply I got was:

“Delusional, no one else and it’s created by you my friend no one else, you are risking eviction by your actions not mine, take responsibility and don’t blame me for your actions, there will be no more communication unless we smell weed again.”

That is the bit I am struggling with most. I have tried to comply. I have tried to be discreet. I have spent money on filters. I have isolated myself inside my home. I have even put my own comfort and safety at risk during the heat.

And yet I still feel like I’m being watched, judged, and threatened.

I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m a legal medical cannabis patient trying to manage my condition quietly in my own home. I’m exhausted by it now and it feels like whatever I do will be treated as wrong.

To Tip #10 (..if anyone's been following, which I seriously doubt)

1. Get an exhaust fan with a carbon filter, Spider Farmer have an all-in-one. And, cannot you just go further up/down stream on boat? Treat the boat as it were a grow room.

• The Spider Farmer 2-in-1 Ventilation System combines an inline fan and an activated carbon filter into a single, compact unit. Designed to maximize space and reduce clutter, it features a plug-and-play setup that delivers clean airflow and reliable odor control for grow boat.

Spider Farmer 2-in-1 Ventilation System Inline Fan with Built-In Carbon Filter

Integrated inline fan with built-in carbon filter. A space-saving, plug-and-play ventilation solution offering clean airflow and reliable odor removal.

spiderfarmer.co.uk

​

 

[Fiddlesticks]

I can't think of a single scenario, outside of it being friends doing favours (this sounds very much like a proper business set up for renting space) where you would be able to evict someone for doing a legal activity.

I've googled the shit out of it and I can't find anything remotely relating to a situation where someone rents a boat and has a dispute with the land owner.

This is why I went and got the boilerplate T&C from the waterways agency to see what rules are typical for living at mooring.
See

Anyway I think I have flogged the subject to death. We can all agree Hamish has done nothing wrong and main priority is to resolve without permanently damaging relationship with owner.

I do have some friends I walk by regularly who lives on narrowboats, I may have to put this to them if I remember when I next see them.

This would be most useful.

 

[Joint Account]

You are protected as a "land" owner with statutory rights.
Just as someone is a landlord doesnt mean that they can easily evict people from a house
Boats are different, No land rights. No council tax etc.

The land owner whom the mooring is at is protected. The only right that you have is contract law. IE the contract lease that was signed.
I do not believe that Hamish will be in breach of his contract (even though I cant see it) for his actions. Therefore you have rights to remain up to end of contract past that nothing.

The rules in the UK regarding housing are funny and archaic. Sorry for the slightly offtopic image (Not AI) but this is why you have houses built over bridges in some places as they are exempt from land laws and taxation by hilarious design.

I have a lot of bridge houses near me, 7 or 8 within a stones throw. I always thought it was just a village quirk, this makes a lot more sense.

This is fully what I expect, although if the landlord is stupid enough to state in writing that he will not renew the lease due to medical cannabis then I believe that changes things. It won't renew the lease obviously but it would put the landlord on the wrong side of the law from what I can tell.

This is why I went and got the boilerplate T&C from the waterways agency to see what rules are typical for living at mooring.
See

Anyway I think I have flogged the subject to death. We can all agree Hamish has done nothing wrong and main priority is to resolve without permanently damaging relationship with owner.

New post automatically merged: 17th Jun, 2026

This would be most useful.

Ultimately I think you're right, Hamish is certainly in the right here.

I feel the landlord is intent on permanent damage but I pray we see a positive solution arise.