When I was a young, wannabe delinquent coming up in the 1980s, life was simple and certain things were accepted as fact. Beyond debate. Among these “universal truths” were the following: cartoons were true artistic productions reserved for Saturday mornings, Lucky Charms was hands down the best cereal choice, and marijuana was a potentially dangerous drug. When we wanted to use marijuana, we had to sneak off, go find a dealer, hide in the woods, and basically treat it as we did any other drug. Granted, a much less dangerous drug. But a “drug” none the less.

Marijuana Legalization: The New Reality

Today, cartoons are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week leading to a general “watering down of the product,” there are entirely too many breakfast cereal choices, and marijuana is now not only “safe,” it is sold as candy and promoted as medicine. I say these things tongue and cheek, but this is no laughing matter. These are profound changes in a relatively brief period of time. Consider (SAMHSA and NHSDUH, 2022):

• Half of Americans have tried cannabis (marijuana).
• 79% of Americans live in a county with at least one dispensary.
• There are 440,445 full-time equivalent jobs supported by legal cannabis.
• The U.S. cannabis industry is expected to reach almost $40 billion in 2024.
• 1 in 3 women over 21 consume cannabis.
• Cannabis will add $115.2 billion to the economy in 2024.
• Adult-use cannabis is now legal in 24 states.
• Support for legalizing cannabis hit a record 70%.

I would argue that society is still adjusting to this new reality. The “70% support rate” is amazing in its own right. We live in a fundamentally different world compared to 30 years ago. We really don’t know how to handle the medicalization, decriminalization, and legalization of marijuana. I am in no way arguing for a return to the “lock ‘em up and throw away the key” era. I firmly believe no one should go to jail for marijuana use. However, we must acknowledge the impact of these pro-marijuana moves.

We live in a world that is confused and misinformed where marijuana use is concerned. There is a great debate raging regarding safe use and the impact on young people. Data from Colorado (the first state to legalize cannabis) has been parsed and evaluated. Proponents cite evidence for success and opponents use the same data to cry foul.

I am not here to argue one way or another for the legalization of cannabis. I support the current changes to the law (for the most part), and I also do not have the capacity in this post to explore the deep societal impact. There is too much to cover. I will instead, focus on one aspect of the cannabis circus. And that is the impact of the decriminalization and medicalization of cannabis on the RECOVERY EXPERIENCE. The change in legal status for cannabis has had a ripple effect (good and bad) through all aspects of society. However, the impact on recovery is profound.  Let’s take a closer look.

The Impact of Legalized Marijuana on Recovery

The changes in cannabis laws impact the recovery process in several ways. Some of these are very obvious. For example:

• Increased access to any substance makes avoiding recurrence of use more difficult, especially early on. Being able to walk into a dispensary or even a gas station and “get some weed” is a new reality. One that makes occasional marijuana use very tempting.
• There is an overall increase in the number of people using marijuana, which creates pressure for the recovering person. Back in the day (2001) when I entered into recovery, no one around me used marijuana. That is not the case in 2024.

However, one area of impact is not so obvious. The lack of clarity surrounding traditional abstinence-based pathways of recovery (12-step for example) and cannabis use is legitimate concern. Especially for those in early recovery.

Considerations for Abstinence-Based Recovery

Legalization and “medicalization” of cannabis muddies the water surrounding “abstinence-based” pathways of recovery. I am a big supporter of a harm reduction mentality. I would much rather see someone use cannabis and avoid “harder, more dangerous” drugs. This conversation happens on a daily basis in my practice. We live and breath harm reduction and motivational interviewing. That said, some people choose the abstinence pathway. And the “vibe” around cannabis has complicated this particular pathway. It is very difficult to find data related to “people using marijuana in recovery.”  We have seen the rise of the term “California Sober” as a label for someone who uses cannabis while in recovery process. However, much of what I discuss here is anecdotal and specific to my experience as a practitioner. This is what I’m seeing on the ground with the people I speak to.

Again, I have zero judgment attached to this. If your life is improving and cannabis is part of that equation, then have at it. However, we must acknowledge that this creates a sense of uncertainty. And in early recovery, I needed certainty.

Can I smoke weed and be safely in recovery or does smoking weed trigger relapse? This has become a legitimate topic with many people weighing in with an enthusiastic “HELL YEAH YOU CAN USE WEED AND AVOID RELAPSE.” And I have personally seen people do this. I have seen people with profound history of deep end opioid use disorder successfully (and occasionally) use cannabis with no apparent consequences. I must also say, that in at least one case, I have seen the use of cannabis in recovery derail the person. It did, in fact (according to this person) trigger a return to more dangerous drugs.

For better or for worse, people who are otherwise committed to an abstinence pathway find themselves drawn to the use of legal marijuana. In the past, the prospect of going to the dealer to get an illegal bag of smoke was barrier enough to prevent use. The change in legal status has opened the door for many people to experiment with cannabis in recovery, and this must be reconciled. Clinicians and peer support professionals need to openly discuss this issue with their participants. No longer can we assume that a person intends to “quit everything.” I believe there will be many people in recovery who can occasionally use cannabis. However, there will no doubt be some who struggle. The important issue is not which pathway is right and which pathway is wrong. The important thing is exploration of this issue and honest self-assessment.

California Sober is a term that comes with some baggage. However, California Sober is a growing trend. We need to find a way to reconcile this reality with the sound, foundational principles of recovery. We can not throw the baby out with the bath water.

Rich Jones is Chief Clinical Officer at Youturn Health. For more information on substance use disorder, please visit our Substance Misuse resources page.