Cali Sober: What Is It, How to Live It, and Is It Even a Good Idea for You?

The phrase “Cali sober” has popped into my head a lot recently. I wanted to do a deep dive on this phrase and talk about what it is and how it relates to my sobriety journey. In case you’re new around here, I stopped drinking alcohol in April 2022. My sobriety journey has been one of many ups and downs. I feel like I’ve finally reached a point where I feel pretty secure in my sobriety status and don’t feel that strong urge to binge drink like I used to. 

Although I haven’t had alcohol in years, I have been dabbling with THC a bit over the last six months. It all started when I tried the CANN THC drinks at a holiday party that I attended in December 2023. I had never really smoked a lot of weed or taken gummies before. Marijuana typically made me feel really paranoid and I didn’t enjoy the feeling. But I’m now realizing that’s because I was ingesting too much of it. 

Fast forward to now, and I currently keep cans of THC seltzers in my fridge for the nights when I want a little buzz without the massive hangover the next day. Below, I dive into what Cali sober means, what the lifestyle is all about, and what are the pros and cons. 

What Is Cali Sober?

Cali sober is short for “California sober.” It basically means that you abstain from drinking alcohol and doing hard drugs or mind-altering substances, but you still smoke (or ingest) marijuana or THC. Because California has had a history of being more accepting (and legalizing) marijuana (especially when it comes to treating chronic pain) before most other US states, it makes sense that this term references the state. 

Sometimes when I’m speaking about my own sobriety, I get confused about what, exactly, to label myself. I usually tell people I’m sober. And if they ask me more questions about my lifestyle choice, I tell them that I occasionally drink THC seltzers from time to time. I don’t know if I would consider myself “Cali sober,” since I don’t really smoke marijuana or drink the THC seltzers super often, but some straight-edge sober folks would probably disagree.  

Below, I’m going to go over the various pros and cons of living a Cali sober lifestyle. When I speak about “THC,” please know that I am referring mostly to THC gummies or seltzers, rather than smoking marijuana.   

Cali Sober Lifestyle Pros and Cons

Pros

It’s relaxing

If you ingest the proper dosage of THC for your body, and you don’t go overboard with it, you will find how truly relaxing it can be. I like to drink my THC seltzers when I’m at home. Like when I’m watching a TV show or a movie with my husband. 

No more hangovers

This is an obvious one, but there’s nothing better than being able to get a little high at night and then wake up not feeling hungover or crappy. I really love this about THC!

It’s more widely available 

Considering THC is becoming more and more legal throughout the nation, it’s a lot easier to get your hands on this substance. I live in NYC, so it’s easy for me to get seltzers that contain small amounts of THC in them. However, I’m not totally sure what the rules and regulations are in other states, to be honest.  

More precise dosage

Like I mentioned previously, one of the biggest issues I had when I smoked marijuana when I was younger was that I was smoking way too much. It always left me far too paranoid. Now that I have THC seltzers, I know exactly how much THC is in each can, and how much my body can handle. Typically, I can feel a buzz from a can with 2-3 MG of THC. And if I want to get pretty high, 5 MG is plenty. 

Cons

Not great for new sober folks

I do not recommend the Cali sober lifestyle if you are just starting to get sober from alcohol. I think that this could be a gateway into reaching for a bottle of booze again. You need to be strong on your sobriety before testing the waters again, in my opinion. 

It can be addictive

I’ve heard a lot of back and forth over the last few years about whether marijuana is addictive. In my personal experience watching other friends and family smoke weed, I definitely believe that the substance can be addictive. If you are trying to recover from alcohol, you need to be careful with THC. It can still be just as addictive as the substance you’ve been trying to avoid! 

Can be uncomfortable in groups

I notice that sometimes when I bring a THC seltzer along to group outings with my friends, I feel awkward and paranoid again. Personally, I prefer to drink these seltzers when I’m at home. Or, I’ll have one if we go out dancing or something and I don’t have to talk to people haha!

Does California Sober Work?

I think that if you’ve been sober from alcohol for a few years, then the California sober lifestyle can work for you. That being said, if you are really struggling in your sobriety from alcohol, living the Cali sober life can be a slippery slope. If you’ve really struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol, I would avoid the Cali sober approach. 

Even though I’ve never been, I would have to guess that Alcoholics Anonymous, or other similar groups in the recovery world, probably aren’t too keen on the Cali sober lifestyle. If you are working with an addiction specialist or are in a recovery group, make sure you speak with a professional before diving into THC. Your mental health and staying sober is important.

How To Start A Cali Sober Lifestyle

Make sure you’re secure in your sobriety 

Like I’ve already mentioned, please make sure that you are feeling confident enough in your sobriety that you’ll be able to handle testing the waters with THC. This is very important, as it could cause you to relapse into drinking alcohol again if you’re not careful. 

Try a THC seltzer

Once you’re sure that you’re secure in your sobriety from alcohol, you can try a THC seltzer. I’ve been really loving the CANN THC drinks and the WYNK drinks. I typically prefer the drinks that are between 2.5-3 MG THC. 

Try THC gummies

I’ve never had a gummy with a high dosage of THC, but I have been trying the sweedies gummies. These are a pretty low dose of THC. I like that the gummies have a super low amount, so I can play around with the amount of THC I want to ingest. It really depends on my mood or where I am. 

Disclaimer: The content provided on The Daley Dose is for educational purposes only. I am not a doctor or addiction specialist and cannot give medical advice. Please speak with your doctor before taking any THC substances.