Applicant with Marijuana conviction from 7 years ago.

Property Manager · New York, NY · Member since 2016 · 388 posts · 90 votes

Hi all , Would you take someone from Marijuana conviction from 7 years ago as tenant ? When they say Marijuana conviction means he smoke marijuana or could mean he was selling it? Is easy to get rid of marijuana smell in the house if he smokes again? Thanks

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Russell BrazilBusiness Member

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Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes

Id ask if they were still smoking it, and if they were if they would be willing to share it.

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Gabe N.
Investor · Anchorage, AK · Member since 2015 · 29 posts · 24 votes
8y
One pound is a whole lot of weed. I would say that either qualifies him as a dealer or a big time smoker. Since cultivation wasn't involved that lowers the risk to your property.
Either way, to me it wouldn't be a big deal seeing how long ago it was. As others have said the applicant's age at the time of the conviction could say a lot about if it was a habitual behavior that they were caught for or if it was just a youthful indiscretion.
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Amy Beth
Rental Property Investor · Edison, NJ · Member since 2016 · 753 posts · 565 votes
8y
That is a lot of weed. That is more than just for personal use unless he is heavily smoking it. Also the fact that he has recent late payments concerns me. I would pass on him and keep looking for a more qualified applicant.
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Randy E.
Rental Property Investor · Durham, NC · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8y
A POUND??? That's a lot of weed!
No casual smoker has a pound on hand. That would be like you having 100 rolls of paper towels in your closet.
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James Wise
Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 30k+ posts · 20k+ votes
8y
Originally posted by @Liz C.:
Hi all ,
Would you take someone from Marijuana conviction from 7 years ago as tenant ?
When they say Marijuana conviction means he smoke marijuana or could mean he was selling it?
Is easy to get rid of marijuana smell in the house if he smokes again?
Thanks
If you are worried about tenants with Marijuana convictions this business is going to be a VERY VERY ROUGH RIDE.
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Christian Hutchinson
Investor · Detroit, MI · Member since 2014 · 360 posts · 354 votes
8y
I have a tenant in a property that 16 years ago he was caught trafficking cocaine and heroin. He was NOT young. But he was in his 30s still trying to make a fast buck, and got caught. Well 13 years later he shows up to rent a property.
I asked for his case file and it was a straight trafficking deal. He wasn't a violent criminal who was caught trafficking. He had steady employment for 6 years and hadn't had a parking ticket since. I viewed it as people deserve to have their life back. I was nervous. But he has been an excellent tenant, stable, helpful. So maybe its because he knows his options are limited. But generally once its been more than 5 years and the person has been employed, it shows they are really not engaged in that lifestyle any longer. I actually like the guy.

If he is working, not getting into additional trouble. I wouldn't even worry.
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Andy WebbPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Carrollton, TX · Member since 2013 · 750 posts · 538 votes
8y
If you are concerned about payment performance or damage to the property, you have grounds to increase the security deposit to protect your investment.
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Andrew B.
Rockaway, NJ · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
8y
Originally posted by @Randy E.:

A POUND??? That's a lot of weed!
No casual smoker has a pound on hand. That would be like you having 100 rolls of paper towels in your closet.
Respectfully disagreed...its more like having 10,000 rolls of toilet paper haha
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Joe SplitrockPro Member
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Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
8y
Great answer @Cara Lonsdale
Some people confuse their personal feelings and want to make a social statement with their screening process. The point is not whether a specific action is legal in another state or whether it will be legal in the future. You either have a policy or you don't.
For example, no Felons is a policy. If the marijuana crime is a misdemeanor, then they are fine. If it is a Felony then they are rejected. When it comes to marijuana, felony usually means possession of large quantity with intent to distribute. Maybe some would call them an entrepreneur ahead of their time, haha.
Some people screen based on "no violent felonies", which would allow a drug crime to pass.
You can also put a time period on the crime. No felonies within the last 5 years or no violent felonies within the last 5 years.
The point is people shouldn't be analyzing individual crimes, but rather set a screening standard that every applicant must follow.
It is important to remember that not agreeing with a law isn't justification for breaking it. Seven years ago, recreational marijuana wasn't legal in ANY state. So at the time they would have been knowingly committing a crime in all 50 states.
The point of screening people for criminal activity it a character screening process. Is the applicant someone who follows rules or do they act above the law?
So what happens if this person doesn't like your rules? Why should they have to follow a rule they don't like?
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Eric G.
Honolulu, HI · Member since 2017 · 85 posts · 73 votes
8y
Originally posted by @James Wise:
Originally posted by @Liz C.:

If you are worried about tenants with Marijuana convictions this business is going to be a VERY VERY ROUGH RIDE.
This is the exactly the point I was trying to illustrate in my first post on this thread, lol. However, I think now that she figured out its a conviction for possession over a pound, that's an easy "no-go". I'm in Law Enforcement and no one who gets caught with over a pound of marijuana is using it for personal use, no one. I think you should move on to another application Liz.
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Account Closed
Investor · Princeton, TX · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8y
For me it would completely depend on the state. In Colorado it would not be a big deal. In Texas, it is a much bigger deal because people actually do jail time here for it.
Since I have been a bail bondsman I can tell you, them going to jail is expensive. It makes it much harder for them to pay the rent.
If that is a big concern then it might be an issue. In particular if the home is in a drug free zone.
Of course, in other threads I have talked about how profitable sober living and transitional housing can be. So... it really just depends on what you will be willing to put up with.
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Account Closed
Investor · Princeton, TX · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8y
In Texas, more than 4oz in a drug free zone could put someone in prison for years.
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Anthony Dooley
Investor · Columbus, GA · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8y
I really wouldn't care if this guy was my applicant . I look at income, evictions, and credit score. Nobody is perfect.
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Liz C.
OP
Property Manager · New York, NY · Member since 2016 · 388 posts · 90 votes
8y
Hi all, thank you for your replies. As to answer your question . He is on his 50th when he committed crime so he is 60 now. Thanks , I am learning a lot. Yes been in business for many years this is first time I have to deal with someone who have a criminal record. And just curious if he commit crime on 18 or 30 or 50th. What’s the big difference on that? Thanks
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Amy Beth
Rental Property Investor · Edison, NJ · Member since 2016 · 753 posts · 565 votes
8y
To me the age difference is if you are caught with weed and you are younger than I just see it as a youthful mistake. But if you are older then I view the person as a regular pot smoker. And I would not want a regular smoker of any kind in my rental. Also because of the weight I suspect the person is dealing it or was dealing it. Also not something I would want to deal with in a rental.
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