Inconsiderate, intimidating neighbors cause depression and anxiety?

Yes, and it sounds dangerous. There isn't a good way to deal with it. Complaints to your landlord or to the police could make you a target, even if it resolved the smoke problem. If you can find a way to move, it would be the safest. I'm sorry the world has gotten so crazy.

What is the possibility of moving? If it gets too bad, I would think that moving would be a great option. Not an easy option, but, perhaps better than having to put up with that nonsense. If you mention to your landlord that you are considering moving due to neighbors activities, he/she may be able to resolve the issue.

Weed is legalized in the state where I live! Unfortunately other strong drugs, some illegal, have infiltrated, along with the legal cannabis, where I live! I do not believe in taking mind enhancing drugs, like cannabis, meth. etc. A few years ago, our neighbors in our condo. building, did to us, exactly as you have experienced! Intimidating gestures, etc. became worse in our condo. Our neighbors put skunk oil in front of our door, and started up an illegal meth. lab, where fumes were coming in our condo. So, that was the last straw! I informed a friend, of our predicament, who just happens to be a detective! We called the best real estate agent in town, and put our condo. up for sale! Our condo. sold right away, because we live in a popular tourist area, where it’s a seller’s market! We moved from the condo. to a manufactured home, surrounded by a wooded area, with only one close neighbor, who we checked out, and that neighbor, like us, does not participate in taking cannabis, or illegal drugs of any kind! I would suggest you move from where you live, if you can afford it, and, like us, find another place to live in, where you won’t have to put up with ‘druggie’ neighbors!

Thank you everyone for your kind replies and your good suggestions. I will also add that these people are doing more than I described and it goes on 24/7. I can't even imagine what they're up to inside!

The problem is I need to be in the area and any move might get put me right next door to a similar or more likely other nuisance situation. Buying a detached house is not possible right now but maybe in the future. By that time however I believe the people causing the issues will be long gone.

I woke up today with thoughts of "I can't believe is this happening to me, this is so dangerous, I have to get out of here". We are turning back the clock next week so now I have to be in by like 5:30 pm! Otherwise I risk having to walk by these people in the dark. I can't believe it. Thank you again for all your kind and good suggestions.

@robertwills If your landlord did a check on apartments, what would they find? Unlivable conditions? Tenants who are not keeping their rental in a decent condition? Is there anything in your lease agreement that allows for inspection? Does it say 24 hour notice of such an inspection? Perhaps if you speak to your landlord, you might find they are not aware of illegal activities. Is it a non-smoking property?
Ginger

I think by law it's 24 hours notice to enter the apartments with some emergency exceptions. It's only speculation of what may be going on inside. But for sure these tenants are smoking "weed" right out in the open and can be quite loud. There are numerous people passing by the building regularly, including the complex personnel. They know what's going on, at least what's apparent to the public, but I believe the housing laws greatly favor tenants. It takes a lot of nuisance over a long period of time before real action can take place.

There needs to be some kind of proof, formal warnings from the landlord, court hearings, etc. before they are removed. At least this is what I believe because this is a nice complex in a nice part of the city, not "the hood". But if you drove by when the people are "hanging out" smoking and carrying on it certainly looks like that way. Not only that, the fact that it takes place 24/7 indicates a real problem. They don't appear to have any employment and this also leads to speculation of what's also going on.

@robertwills it most definitely is enough to cause anxiety and depression! I can relate because I have experienced living near horrible neighbours, first in a condo, a rental apartment, then in a house, and I do believe that is when I started suffering from anxiety and depression! Contacting police and writing to municipal authorities had no effect! We did finally move from our house - eight years later - but the damage was done. It’s sad that we were the ones who had to give up our nice home in an otherwise ideal location (within walking distance to schools, shopping, and the hospital where I worked).

What's really bad is the fact that I have to go out and then come back to my apartment. I never know if they will be hanging out smoking near the entrance where I have to walk into so I get anxiety about a half mile from the building before I return and I brace myself for a possible altercation. These people have at times been shouting in rage, I mean real rage and that's very concerning to me along with their other behaviors. This can happen any time, like on a bright, sunny afternoon in public or at 3 am. Other residents have heard it, too. I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world who is experiencing a similar situation but for the first time in my life I've asked the question "Why is this happening to me?".

I am so fortunate I grew up in the neighborhood I did. It was so safe and peaceful. In fact I had a dream recently where I was back there and I was talking with some of the current neighbors, telling them that I used to live there years ago, and everyone was so friendly and nice. Then I got to my old house and saw lights on. I knew I couldn't go back in and the sadness I felt was the worst I have ever had in a dream. I was actually crying in the dream. Definitely a representation of what's going on in my present, real life.

@robertwills I hear you … I’ve been there!

Is there someone who can meet you about a block away and walk into the building with you?

Failing all else, could you go into a local police station and register a report of harassment and intimidation? If you could buy or borrow a body cam you could take pictures/videos to add to your report perhaps …? If nothing else, if these people do anything to you, at least there will be a record of the harassment on file at the police station.

@rashida, I greatly appreciate your reply. Those ideas were the first things that I considered. I almost asked someone if they could pick me up and bring me back to the apartment and before I could they asked me! I politely declined as I am only leaving and coming back in daylight and at least I feel safer. Not that this matters at all to the people hanging out. The things that I have seen taking place outside the building are crazy, like I literally could not believe my eyes there for a moment.

My mistake was waiting too long to do anything effective. There are now a number of other people, both at the complex and outside, who know exactly what is going on. There is also official corroboration with some of the things I have observed. So I'm hopeful for a permanent end to this tense situation by Christmas.