> But you can still influence your children to not take up smoking. Of course you can't guarantee that they won't, but parental influence certainly plays a role

> But you can still influence your children to not take up smoking. Of course you can't guarantee that they won't, but parental influence certainly plays a role. Parental influence includes direct modeling as well as environmental modeling. I'm not even sure if the two can be meaningfully delineated. The article said the person would "occasionally" smoke marijuana on the steps, which is another way of saying regularly (but not necessarily frequently). It may be a little passive aggressive to call the cops, and I'm not going to bury my head in the sand--it's probable such a passive-aggressive approach was racially motivated. OTOH, I'm a pretty non-confrontational person and would probably use the same approach if I wasn't already on friendly terms, regardless of race. I mean, this is the Bay Area--nobody is going to get arrested or even fined. The cop is just going to tell them to stop because he doesn't want to be inconvenienced again. The unfortunate truth is that middle- and upper-class disputes are mediated through the authorities these days. Even if we would be better of if a more friendly approach were taken--as is still common in many poor (urban or rural) and rural (white or black) communities--realistically it's the couple who need to accept that disputes about seemingly innocuous behavior will be resolved through the cops, not direct confrontation. The article said they simply changed their behavior to smoking in the backyard, out of sight of most neighbors and, presumably, with less intrusive odors. I think that's not only acceptable but desirable, regardless of any racial or class animus. Even if, for the sake of argument, there would otherwise be zero effect on neighborhood children's propensity to smoke, such exposure likely would perpetuate stereotypes about blacks smoking marijuana. And even if the couple were otherwise the most respectable couple on the block admired by all the children for being kind and caring and intelligent that simple stereotype alone could be harmful in terms of children's (and even adults') internalized image of blacks and black culture. Respect is a two way street. I support legalized marijuana because I respect it's a peculiar feature of some cultures, especially but hardly exclusively to black culture. Adults smoked it in my household regularly. I also respect the WASPy culture of turning their noses up at such behavior, because it is bad behavior--individualized exceptions notwithstanding--and the most effective way to suppress it is to make it a taboo. How do you respect both cultures simultaneously as well as all individuals concerned? Smoke it privately and non-invasively. The neighbors and the couple each take a small step towards better social integration. Talk is cheap, shifts in behavior are what count.