When Hotel Life Gets Hazy: Should You Call CPS on a Family Smoking Weed in Their Room?
Let’s be real: working the front desk at a motel is a front-row seat to humanity’s quirks, chaos, and the occasional ethical conundrum. But what happens when your daily guest complaints go from “noisy neighbors” to “is this child endangerment?” That’s the dilemma one Redditor, u/kovasona, found themselves in—and it’s sparked a lively debate that’s part morality play, part commentary on the state of hospitality, and all-around fascinating.
Picture this: You’re checking in guests, fielding the usual requests for extra towels, and then you realize that one of your long-term resident families—parents and two small children—might be lighting up marijuana inside their non-smoking motel room. The kicker? The smell is drifting into neighboring rooms, and at least one guest is concerned (and very clear about not wanting to be charged for it). Suddenly, you’re not just a front desk agent—you’re sitting on a social powder keg.
The Smoky Situation
Here’s the setup: In a state where medical marijuana is legal, u/kovasona works the desk at a motel frequented by a mix of guests, including some who use cannabis. One particular family of four, with kids no older than six, has been living at the property for a while. Management has already had words with the parents about the smell at the pool, but things escalate when another couple checks in next door and complains about weed smoke seeping through the walls.
That’s when the penny drops. If the smell is that strong, are these parents really hotboxing their room with kids inside? And if so, is it time for Child Protective Services to step in? “Calling seems like the right thing to do here in my opinion,” OP writes, before asking the community for advice.
The Community Weighs In: Hot Takes and Heartfelt Concerns
Reddit, as always, delivered a chorus of perspectives—funny, thoughtful, and sometimes a little harsh. The most upvoted comment, from u/ADirtFarmer, cut to the chase: “Hotboxing a hotel room is bad for kids. Foster care is worse.” This simple truth resonated with many, sparking a sub-thread debating the relative dangers of secondhand smoke versus the trauma of family separation.
OP’s own response captured the heart of the dilemma: “I know the smoke can't be good for them, but is it worth breaking the family apart?” Other users echoed this sentiment, warning that a CPS call doesn’t always mean immediate removal, but it can open a can of worms. As u/Own_Psychology_5585 (a self-identified “lawful pot head”) explained, “It’s highly unlikely that the kids would be taken. A call to CPS is more likely to find resources for the family.”
Several commenters, like u/BlueCozmiqRays, encouraged a nuanced approach: If the kids seem otherwise well cared for, reporting might not be the best move. But if there are signs of neglect or other red flags, it could be justified. “What good do you think would come of it? What’s the worst case scenario…?” they asked, urging the OP to weigh the potential outcomes.
Policy, Practicality, and the Reality of Motel Life
While the moral debate raged, others zeroed in on the practical side: motel policy. “The room is non-smoking. This means all smoking, ‘medicinal’ or not,” pointed out u/SkwrlTail, with several chiming in that tobacco or marijuana, it’s still against the rules. The solution? Apply the fee, cancel the stay, and let management handle the fallout.
Yet the situation isn’t so cut-and-dried. As OP noted, management seemed strangely hesitant to kick the family out—possibly out of concern for the children’s welfare. “If they're living here, they probably don't have any other place to go,” OP speculated. Some commenters suggested that the lure of steady rent might also be a factor, even if it means other guests complain or rooms need deep cleaning.
Others, like u/kallisti_gold, stripped the issue down to basics: “What would you do if they were smoking tobacco in the room? Do that.” In other words, don’t make it about weed vs. cigarettes—make it about the rules.
What’s the Right Call? Ethics, Empathy, and the Limits of Your Job
So, what’s a front desk agent to do? Between upholding policy, protecting kids, and not wanting to ruin lives, there’s no easy answer. Some, like u/No-Koala1918, suggested starting with a conversation: Talk to the family, explain the complaints, and see if a solution (like using designated smoking areas or switching to edibles) can be found.
Others pointed out that the OP isn’t a mandated reporter, and that one call to CPS doesn’t guarantee drastic action. As u/CharacterGap388, a former parent advocate in child welfare, explained: “CPS generally does not automatically remove kids because of 1 report... Otherwise, they just get connected to social services which might help them if they are living in a hotel because they can’t afford a security deposit or something.”
And then there were those who just wanted OP to mind their business—only to be promptly reminded, “It literally is their business,” as u/Tenzipper put it. After all, when you’re the person guests come to with complaints, you’re already in the thick of things.
The Takeaway: No Easy Answers, But Plenty to Discuss
This Reddit thread doesn’t offer a tidy solution, but it does highlight the messy, complicated reality of front-line hospitality work. Sometimes, the hardest part of the job isn’t angry guests or lost reservations—it’s deciding when to step in, and when to let things ride.
What would you do in OP’s shoes? Would you call CPS, stick to enforcing hotel policy, or try to have a heart-to-heart with the family? Or would you just hope the next shift handles it?
Share your thoughts below—because if there’s one thing this story proves, it’s that the line between “just doing your job” and “making a difference” is blurrier than the air in Room 204.
What’s your take on this smoky situation? Drop a comment below, and let’s keep the conversation going—because real hospitality isn’t just about clean towels, it’s about tough choices, too.
Original Reddit Post: Still A Tale, But Asking For Advice