Are you one of the many people who turn to alcohol to cope or relieve stress California Sober? If you’re reading this, you may find yourself re-evaluating your relationship with alcohol and noticing how it affects how you feel. You may be questioning your nightly drinking and wondering if it benefits your physical and mental health, but you’re not yet at the point where you want to be completely sober.
If this is true, you’re in good company. There’s a growing trend across the country of people choosing to drink less alcohol overall. Still, they’re not necessarily seeking the traditional version of sobriety with total abstinence from all substances. Meet: the “Californian sober” mindset. We explore what it is, why it’s so popular, and whether the lifestyle suits you.
What does California sober mean?
“California sober” is a term commonly used to describe people who have decided to stop using drugs and alcohol, with a few exceptions. While everyone’s interpretation of this lifestyle is different, marijuana is the most usually cited “acceptable” substance by those who consider themselves sober Californians.
Some people expand the meaning to include psychedelic drugs like psilocybin (aka “magic mushrooms”), LSD, and ayahuasca. For our purposes, we’ll use this term to refer to cannabis, as psychedelic drugs are not yet legalized in the United States (except Oregon, which decided to legalize psilocybin in 2020).1
Is this a new concept?
First, it’s worth noting that many people have probably been choosing this lifestyle for a while—it now has a trendy new name. But as more people transition to low (or no) alcohol consumption as part of their quest for a healthier lifestyle, the California Sober concept may continue to gain traction.
It used to be that you had two choices when it came to drugs and alcohol: be a consumer or a total abstainer. But now consumers are preliminary to realize that there’s a whole gray area in amongst that allows them to relax and take a break from their favorite indulgent vices with more nuance. Maybe it’s choosing quality over quantity when it comes to drinking, or in the spirit of California Sober, you could stick to a particular substance of choice that doesn’t make you feel awful after drinking.
Legalization of Marijuana
For marijuana in particular, 2020 was a big year for the formerly illegal drug, as four more states legalized its (recreational) use for adults, and that push is expected to spread to more states. In fact, according to Politico, roughly one in three Americans now has access to legal marijuana in their state.2 This means that going to California Sober is becoming an option for more people nationwide than ever.
Even if you don’t live in a state where marijuana is legal, you can still partake in hemp-based CBD as part of your sober journey in California. Hemp-derived CBD contains no THC (the psychoactive substance in marijuana that causes the high) and is legal in all 50 states.
Advantages of this lifestyle
The nuanced meaning of California Sober allows people to avoid the strict dichotomy of total sobriety that may seem too extreme for someone who has never had a drug abuse or addiction problem. Even if you have a healthy relationship with alcohol, you may still find that you rely too heavily on your nightcap to relieve stress or find it a little harder to get that morning workout in the evening after you’ve had a drink. For many, the harmful effects of alcohol aren’t present when consuming marijuana, making it a logical substitute when they want something to help them relax without the risk of a hangover.
“If I skip the drink and instead take a few hits from my cannabis vaporizer, I nap like a baby and wake up relaxed.”
Another California sober lifestyle fanatic reports that she abstains from drinking alcohol during the week because she finds it increases her anxiety but uses low-THC/CBD edibles to help her relax before bed. She still drinks alcohol on the weekends, when her anxiety levels are generally lower. When it comes to being sober in California, you can set your own rules—it’s all about figuring out what makes you feel better and ditching shortcuts.
Is California Sober Right for You?
First, check your state’s cannabis laws to determine what’s legal. If you have the chance, this could be an opportunity to explore marijuana and see if it helps you de-stress and relax at the end of the day (like a glass of wine without the interrupted sleep and hangover the next morning).
Some questions you may want to ask yourself if you’re thinking about getting sober in California:*
- Do you find yourself having a glass of wine (or two) to relax at night but not loving how it makes you feel the next day?
- Do you think drinking alcohol negatively affects your sleep, mood, or health?
- Do you want to live a “cleaner” lifestyle but don’t want to give up a little help to relax?
- Do you think you’re too dependent on alcohol to relax but don’t know how to change that?
- Drinking isn’t your thing, but are you looking for something different to relieve stress?
If you answered “yes” to several of these questions, head to your local pharmacy and have an open conversation with the “healers” about your goals, concerns, and questions.
If you have a history of substance abuse issues or suspect you may have them, check with your doctor, therapist, or substance abuse counselor before making any lifestyle changes.