I think this needs to be said subs and methadone aren't sober either:joy:
3 Likes
i never once realized how judgmental some recovering addicts can be about someone else’s recovery it’s kind of mind blowing to be honest.
1 Like
that’s why it’s called california sober and not just sober.
great point about being and alcoholic vs drug addict.
Doesn’t work for me but I don’t know everything.
I'm in California and I'm Sober...jk lol.. every bosy is entitled to their own opinion.
Hi Elianna, I think this is an interesting question you raise and an interesting point you make about “having the will power” to only use weed in recovery. I think this gets at the heart of people who are sober and offended by people calling themselves “California sober” when really they are still using a substance. I am very new to sobriety, but I can tell you right now that if I relied on will power alone, I wouldn’t make it through the rest of this evening. Working a program and dedicating yourself to being clear-minded is hard, and if there was a substance that we could take to make it easier and not screw up our lives, we would have found it. Pot screws with people’s lives just like alcohol does, but just like not everyone who uses alcohol is an alcoholic; not everyone who uses weed is an addict. From what I understand, if you have come to terms with the fact that you have a problem with alcohol, then you have a problem with substances period, and if you compromise your clarity with a different substance, it’s just transferring your problem to a different addiction. Not to mention, making you vulnerable to returning to using alcohol. I always think about the fact that the first drink wasn’t ever a problem for me—in fact, the first drink felt great and did all the things I wanted it to do. It made me feel happy and relaxed and invincible, but it also led to a second and third and fourth and fifth…which led to a blackout. I think you can see my point. Claiming that you can control your use of one mind-altering substance doesn’t jibe with the whole idea that you are powerless to your addiction, and there is no amount of willpower that will keep you sober in and of itself. I hope that helps, and I truly hope you do stay sober, because the risks of using are just too awful.
1 Like
I just want to point out that no one can label you an alcoholic, only you can. Only you can decide if you have a problem. Being “California sober” make work for some and may not work for others. The important thing to remember is, if you have to control your drinking than the drinking controls you.
1 Like
I take meds for anxiety and depression, cbd and thc for arthritis and pain so I guess that makes me California sober.
What Is Spiritual Bypassing?
Spiritual bypassing describes a tendency to use spiritual explanations to avoid complex psychological issues.1 The term was first coined during the early 1980s by a transpersonal psychotherapist named John Welwood in his book Toward a Psychology of Awakening. According to Welwood, spiritual bypassing can be defined as a "tendency to use spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, and unfinished developmental tasks."
Blah blah blah...kidding 
Alcohol is a legal drug similar to weed. There is no dibating that fact.
I too smoked from 12 to 59 when I went to treatment. I understand why people smoke not to drink, but for me, I have no control over marijuana either. I have to stay substance free to be sober.
1 Like
oh but there is debating that Alcohol is definitely more of a poison than “drug” both have negative parts to the abuse of the substance however marijuana is not just used recreationallu but medicinally and prescribed to people as medicine in legal state’s alcohol is not used as a medicine and alcohol abused can cause much more damage than abusing marijuana
My question is this. Not saying you personally, but since you are defending California sober... if you were trying to live a sober lifestyle that means taking life on life's terms. There is no checking out. What is so appealing to people who are "California sober"? Why do they need to check out so badly? Why do they want to live in an altered state?
1 Like
you are assuming, & i know you stated “not saying you personally” and then your other choice of words categorized all people who choose to be California sober. i can not speak for everyone who is california sober as they are all california sober for many different reasons. That is personally none of our business. Since you want to know so badly about why someone might be california sober for me, I just started my recovery from drinking. If i wasn’t smoking weed right now i’d still be drinking. I don’t plan on smoking weed the rest of my life eventually and hopefully in the near future i won’t feel the need to smoke in order to not feel the need to drink. Everyone recovers differently and you as a recovering addict or alcoholic should know not to judge someone’s past decisions nor future decisions.
I personally was not categorizing anyone. I was stating clearly the questions that most of our members have. While Marijuana is not as obviously damaging as alcohol there is a host of negative side effects associated with it.
Marijuana is an escape mechanism. I take a full spectrum CBD for medicinal purposes so I am also very versed in the benefits of Marijuana, however as a psychotropic drug it is highly addictive and dangerous. This is why many of us in the sober community as the questions I asked in my last post. They are meant to be an introspective thing for the ones who seek to pursue "California Sober."
agreed there are definitely negative side effects to smoking weed as there is negative side effects to every single medication you will ever be prescribed. I’m not seeking the california sober lifestyle. I’ve been smoking for years and then started drinking in highschool as a fun thing to do with friends just recently found out i have a problem with drinking and am an alcoholic & have completely cut drinking out of my lifestyle but did not kick smoking weed to the curb. I hope that gives you a better understanding of why i am california sober. I don’t want to be california sober but it is keeping me sober from drinking at this early stage of my recovery.
No, because the people commenting are not being very open minded to why people are california sober. instead it’s like why are you wanting to be california sober if you want to be sober you can’t be california sober and that is not true bc i want to reach that strictly sober stage i’m just not ready yet and that is ok
You ask us to be open minded to something that is a major minefield for people in sobriety. If you want approval from us then you should have asked for that. We are all giving you our sincere thoughts on the issue. In the immortal words of somebody, “you do you.” Don’t let weather you agree with us persuade you look up the facts. Do the research on your own, and if the facts don’t line up with what you think don’t ask the community to give opinion that backs up your idea.
2 Likes