174 - Our Thoughts on California Sober AKA Marijuana Maintenance Program174 - Our Thoughts on California Sober AKA Marijuana Maintenance Program
Real Recovery Talk
Tom Conrad and Benjamin B share their views and experiences on being “California sober” and using marijuana in recovery. They discuss public opinions, clinical tools, and 12-step ideas while questioning whether a marijuana maintenance approach is worth the risk.
42:38•15 Apr 2021
California Sober or Slippery Slope? Tom and Ben Weigh In on Marijuana Maintenance
Episode Overview
- Tom and Ben describe repeated cases where marijuana maintenance is said to end in a return to a person’s primary drug of choice.
- They argue that abstinence-based recovery appears to offer the strongest foundation for long-term stability, especially for severe addiction.
- The hosts question the belief that certain activities, like meditation, can only be done effectively while using substances such as cannabis.
- They clarify misunderstandings about 12-step programmes, stressing the difference between being powerless over addiction and feeling helpless.
- They raise concerns about treatment centres that allow marijuana use, suggesting financial motives and sharing examples of poor outcomes.
“From my perspective, 100% of the time, it has always led back to their drug of choice.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol or drugs yet keep “just a little something” on board? This Real Recovery Talk episode tackles that exact grey area through a frank chat about being “California sober” – the idea of staying off hard drugs and alcohol while using marijuana. Tom Conrad and Benjamin B share what they’ve seen in years of frontline addiction work, keeping it honest, humorous, and pretty direct.
Tom states bluntly, "From my perspective, 100% of the time, it has always led back to their drug of choice" when people try a marijuana maintenance approach after getting clean. Ben backs this up with stories from treatment centres that tried cannabis-friendly programmes, only to see clients spiral or facilities shut down. You’ll hear them unpack Demi Lovato’s public embrace of California sober and her comments on Joe Rogan’s show, along with Dr Drew’s response.
They question ideas like needing a substance in the system to function, using weed to meditate, and comparing bulimia recovery to moderating drug use. They also clear up common myths around Vivitrol, withdrawal, and what 12-step programmes actually say about being “powerless” versus “helpless”. The tone stays non-judgemental yet firm: they’re not “witch burners”, and they admit some people might manage with marijuana or medication.
But for the “real alcoholic or junkie”, they argue that abstinence-based recovery gives the best shot at a stable, meaningful life. If you or someone you care about is toying with the idea of California sober, this conversation might help you pause and ask the hard question they keep coming back to: is the risk really worth it?
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