Wondering what people’s thoughts are on Cali-sober. I have some friends that quit drinking, but use THC drinks/ gummies, or the mushroom chocolates. I can’t due to my work, but not sure how I feel about it. I would love a way to escape, but is that really starting sober? I want to celebrate with them on their sober time- but it doesn’t seem the same. No matter what- quitting booze is hard. I wish I could escape sometimes, but are they really sober? Most times I see them they are partying with those other things.
Just curious what the group thought…
8 Likes
If the only goal is to quit drinking then a alcohol free goal can be achieved, but not sobriety.
7 Likes
Thank you Dan- That’s kind of what I was thinking. There is a difference between “alcohol free” and sober. So it feels weird to me when they are celebrating sober milestones. I understand the work, and their desire to be proud of those accomplishments though.
6 Likes
You did escape! Over 1500 days free from grips of active addiction 
I’m sure those friends wish they had the sobriety you do… they still have a vise I’m sure they struggle with.
6 Likes
Recovery -in my view- is building ourselves a life we don’t need to escape from. Healthy escapes maybe, like nature, art, music, love. I see no room for substances in there. Hugs.
13 Likes
You have the freedom of sobriety.
They are ‘escaping’ still and won’t have the full effects and benefits of sobriety because they are still running from something.
I know what Id choose.
7 Likes
I use THC, and once in a while psilocybin, medicinally. Recommended by my doctor and my psych, as pharmaceuticals and I do not get along too many horrible side effects, and ER visits. I have much better results with natural remedies, so I guess it’s really on why, and how, it’s being used.
4 Likes
Hi there!
I can only share my own experience.
I quit drinking 2494 days ago. I quit cannabis 1119 days ago.
For me, I called myself “sober” when I started my journey as I wasn’t having any alcohol-which was shutting down my body. I had been prescribed cannabis as a natural pain medication by my doctor for medical conditions as my body reacted poorly to pharmaceuticals. So I had convinced myself it was fine and I wasn’t doing anything wrong. My alcoholic brain still wasn’t seeing things clearly. For 2 years, I avoided working a recovery program to make real changes in my life. Because of that, life sucked and I was still running.
So, I eventually could really see my own BS and I decided to quit. I talked to my sponsor about it, packed up everything, said goodbye to it all and got rid of everthing.
Now, years later, I finally saw a doctor for a physical and discovered I am currently in stage 2 kidney failure and have an extremely high risk of COPD. Which, I believe as my lungs tell me it’s true. My body has paid the price for the substances I’ve put into it.
So, I called myself “sober” but in looking back I really wasn’t fully sober until I quit. I just wasted time, kept running and hit a new low-which is what I needed to surrender to go all-in to a recovery program. It’s a slippery slope, but I’m glad I found my way to continue to not drink and truly found a new and better way to live. A life I’m not running from anymore. And I’m freaking BLESSED because of it. We all have our path. Choose what is best for YOU. 
8 Likes
The worldly marketing powers have led the sheeple to believe that marijuana is some herbal medicine and not the addictive drug with short and long term side effects that science has always told us it is. It is a depressant the same as alcohol or opoids.
If I started smoking pot but didn’t drink alcohol calling myself ‘sober’ would be a lie…
10 Likes
Knowing me, if I started smoking weed soon it would be dabs and then shrooms and next thing I’d rationalize is I can drink again… Any alternative universe that I stroll down, other than my current, is a really fucking bad idea!
That’s just me.
5 Likes
Speaking for myself. I am trying to stay off the booze and I can’t use THC due to work. But 3 years ago before I applied for this job, I used THC. But I honestly felt like I replaced one with the other.
I am working hard in staying off everything. #underconstruction
7 Likes
Cali sober is fine for others, both the term in my opinion and the lifestyle, but not for me.
I quit alcohol almost 3 years ago and thought I could introduce THC for social use. It worked for a while but eventually I ended up unable to control how much I took and not using it socially. I stayed home more often and zoned out on it in increasingly higher doses. Just like my relationship to alcohol evolved over time.
2 weeks actually sober now. There are better coping mechanisms out there that will enrich your life rather than trading substances. What others choose is up to them but for me sober is the way.
6 Likes
It’s difficult because THC can be used for pain management, and that’s largely preferable over something like oxycodone. But you’re right, if someone is using it to party, it’s not right for them to refer to it as sobriety. If you’re smoking 1/4 of your paycheck… that’s active addiction behavior.
5 Likes
I’m going on 15 years sobriety and I have been a Marijuana user since I was 13(63 now) I started recreational but after my stroke in 2012, I found out about quite a few diseases that I didn’t know that I had due to alcohol abuse and thinking that I was hurting because of working so hard, but in actuality it was my diseases. I have Coronary Artery disease(alcohol abuse, not cholesterol) Sjogrens syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Osteoarthritis, Lupus, Hyperthyroidism(found 3 lumps that need biopsy in right thyroid) Spinal infusion due to Arthritis completely dissolved the 2 lower disc’s in my lower spine, waiting for total knee replacement surgery, torn meniscus repair Dr found out that Arthritis is going to eventually cause me to have total knee replacement surgery, mastectomy on my right side, left side good…so I prefer medical Marijuana for my pain management, I had to take pain pills when I had my back surgery and I didn’t like how they made me feel, and was glad when I was healed!! If the person is only sobering up then I see no problem…However if they are trying to get completely sober as in not using any mind altering drugs or alcohol than they are losing their battle. Do you understand what I am trying to say 
3 Likes
I already said my piece above about me. I get ya, Liz. Shit, with the autoimmune conditions you have going on along with the other stuff I’d likely be doing the same. I’m 54 here, my shit’s coming too, and in 30 yrs of medicine I’ve identified we all get dealt a card. Some the diabetes card, others the hypertension card, and sadly some folks get dealt a whole handful of them.
I’ve helped folks in recovery who had cancer and wanted no part of opiates, benzos or anything again. Weed helped them manage, so to me, what you said makes perfect sense. Hugs & keep being you!
2 Likes
I’ve been thinking about this too and decided I want my brain to heal/normalize without any mind altering substance - to me, the word “sober” shouldn’t have any qualifier in front of it. I understand there are situations where it is needed for medical reasons, though. I also think it’s safer for non-alcoholics to partake in CBD, weed, etc. When I tried to get sober previously I would occasionally use CBD but not this time. I think it hampered my ability to heal and learn coping skills and know I can trust myself to handle life without leaning on any drug.
3 Likes
I really speciation appreciate everyone’s input! Sorry for my delay… i do think that some THC might be better then some other drugs for pain reliefs etc. I’ve have several surgeries and the pain meds really mess with me. So that would make sense.
But i think if your doing it recreational that’s not sober- just my opinion though. I can’t due to a job that tests me- i think without that i would have a very strong urge though! One of the main reasons I’ve been able to stay away from booze is the pain it eventually causes me (physically. Emotionally etc) i really dont want that again.
Thank you all so much for your input 
For me, sober is how “you” define sober…you do you …If ya have a drinkin problem, quit drinking, if ya have a weed problem, stop smoking…try to be a better person tomorrow then ya were yesterday…
1 Like