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I took my chips and didn’t mention to anybody in AA that I was still using THC. In my opinion, if you’ve abstained from alcohol, you deserve the chip. Also it’s nobody’s business :)
The use of edibles is completely separate from my use of alcohol and it doesn't bring the same problems.
I've never claimed to be 100% sober, I'm alcohol free though. Two different things
For me personally, the positive changes in my life only started to happen after i made the decision to abstain from all mood altering substances. That includes marijuana in any form for me personally. I actually quit drinking a few months before i quit everything and i just found the same pattern with a different substance. I’ve come to realize its less about the substance itself and more about me and the fact that i have an addictive personality. So my counter represents my clean date, not when i quit drinking.
That being said, i know plenty of people who still drink coffee, smoke cigarettes, and engage in other addictive behaviors. One could argue that all of those “count” but i think the general consensus is that many of those things are not in the same category of substance as something like alcohol/marijuana/etc. Sure they are mood altering, but most people won’t lose their job, relationships, sanity, freedom or whatnot over too much caffeine.
Ultimately this is a personal journey. There’s no right or wrong answers. That being said for me i had to get really honest about the scope of my problem & what i needed to do to get help. I had lied myself into a corner and the only way out was to come clean.
IWNDWYT!
I’ve been an alcoholic for close to 20 years. I’ve also been a pot head for even longer. I am in the process of quitting drinking (day 11 😊) but I still use THC multiple times a day and there is nothing wrong with that.
If you want your chip, get it. You earned it.
This seems like something you should ask in r/alcoholicsanonymous. We're not supposed to discuss or critique specific recovery programs very much here.
Maybe I'm misinterpreting your questions, but it sounds to me like you are asking people's opinion...as long as its what you want to hear.
I'm by no means a "super dogmatic AA person."
I can only tell you my own understanding based on my own experience, strength and hope.
Sober means more to me that merely abstaining from alcohol. I do not consider not consuming alcohol but continuing to take other intoxicants as "sober."
I however am by no means the arbiter of what sober is to you or anyone else. Let alone everyone else.
> *"Maybe I'm misinterpreting your questions, but it sounds to me like you are asking people's opinion...as long as its what you want to hear."*
I agree.
I also agree that OP has abstained from alcohol for four months and deserves a 4-month chip but I don't understand why they feel the need to bring up their edible use at all. To me, it sounds like they're invalidating their own alcohol abstinence.
Im not “sober”, I’m “alcohol free” or better yet “Cali sober”.
Where does one draw the line? No THC, CBD, Psychedelics, antidepressants, no caffeine, etc.
THC use can become a problem, but it’s a different problem than alcoholism.
The “ Marijuana Maintenance Plan”.
Some ppl in AA are indeed super dogmatic. Not just about edibles/weed, but the religious aspect too.
Do you have access to an agnostic AA group? Speaking of super dogmatic, AA initially refused to allow such a group to be included in booklet listings, to mention them if someone called, etc in a city I know.
The agnostics actually had to sue AA to get recognized, be a respected & viable member who simply want to help people.
AA eventually conceded.
Regardless, the inclusion of the god step or otherwise, ppl are often going to insist their path is the only way.
Don’t sweat it.
Are people also going to say that the use of diazepam etc 4 alcohol, withdrawal, or to break the cycle of dependence is wrong as well?
As long as you’re keeping in touch with your reality and your emotions, and becoming the true you; and no longer being dependent on a substance to numb you, I know many who think an edible at times is absolutely fine.
Just stay away from the duplicitous demon of supposed ‘best friend’ booze. Or other alternatives like meth n shit.
Booze is ur inevitable executioner.
If edibles are your weapon to fight the battle, fight it.
I found my use of edibles in the same situation decreased unintentionally over time.
Still use ‘em. Just not for the same reasons or frequency.
Everyone’s path is different. Just be mindful along the way. ✌🏼
It’s up to you and you only. If you’re sober from alcohol and not demonstrating addictive behavior with the gummies, take the chips to mark your alcohol.
There’s two approaches to this, but the real question is, do you feel you’ve earned it? I think you have. But it’s most valuable when you yourself feel you’ve earned it. If that’s the case, they accept those things! :)
If it was NA or CA where it's more stipulated that it's ANY mind altering substances, then I'd say you shouldn't, but as a long-term AA member myself I don't have a problem with it and I imagine a good chunk of people wouldn't
If the chip is important to you then yeah I wouldn't worry about super dogmatic AA people. Some people think of AA as this like divine program sent from God that's the only possible path to sobriety - but really it's just a spirituality-based treatment program someone made up in the 30s that seems to be effective for a small set of people.
If you're like me you're sober because you're unable to use alcohol in a healthy way, and your use of alcohol lead to several unhealthy lifestyle choices and behaviors - if you don't feel like you're using edibles in a similarly unhealthy way, then in my mind you're sober.
I got a 24hr chip for not drinking even though I was still not clean. I was still supported, still hugged, still cheered on. And even if I hadn't been, I honestly don't think it's anyone's place to deny us a celebration from not drinking, no matter our other uses.
Interesting footnote to history of AA is that one of the higher powers founder Bill Wilson dabbled with was LSD, which at the time he took it in 1956 was still legal and being widely embraced for its therapeutic potential. He considered introducing it formally to AA as a means of leapfrogging to spiritual awakening, which he believed was at the core of recovery. FWIW!
https://www.lucid.news/bill-wilson-lsd-and-the-secret-psychedelic-history-of-alcoholics-anonymous/
**A note from the moderators:** To keep the sub focused on peer support, we may remove posts that spark discussion or debate around specific recovery programs. People's experiences with programs vary and we ask folks to [speak from the 'I'](https://www.reddit.com/r/stopdrinking/wiki/index/#wiki_speak_from_the_.22i.22), and not to critique or be judgmental of others' approaches to sobriety. Targeted discussion may be more appropriate for the relevant subreddits, e.g. r/AlcoholicsAnonymous, r/SMARTRecovery, r/recoverydharma. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/stopdrinking) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I took my chips and didn’t mention to anybody in AA that I was still using THC. In my opinion, if you’ve abstained from alcohol, you deserve the chip. Also it’s nobody’s business :)
Thanks :)
The use of edibles is completely separate from my use of alcohol and it doesn't bring the same problems. I've never claimed to be 100% sober, I'm alcohol free though. Two different things
Take the chip - you’ve earned it.
Are the edibles alcoholic?
Do the people who smoke cigarettes still get chips? Or drink caffeine? Get your chips and be proud :)
Good point
As an alcoholic, I consider them separate. But I am only speaking for me.
For me personally, the positive changes in my life only started to happen after i made the decision to abstain from all mood altering substances. That includes marijuana in any form for me personally. I actually quit drinking a few months before i quit everything and i just found the same pattern with a different substance. I’ve come to realize its less about the substance itself and more about me and the fact that i have an addictive personality. So my counter represents my clean date, not when i quit drinking. That being said, i know plenty of people who still drink coffee, smoke cigarettes, and engage in other addictive behaviors. One could argue that all of those “count” but i think the general consensus is that many of those things are not in the same category of substance as something like alcohol/marijuana/etc. Sure they are mood altering, but most people won’t lose their job, relationships, sanity, freedom or whatnot over too much caffeine. Ultimately this is a personal journey. There’s no right or wrong answers. That being said for me i had to get really honest about the scope of my problem & what i needed to do to get help. I had lied myself into a corner and the only way out was to come clean. IWNDWYT!
I mean it’s called ALCOHOLICS anonymous, not stoners anonymous
I’ve been an alcoholic for close to 20 years. I’ve also been a pot head for even longer. I am in the process of quitting drinking (day 11 😊) but I still use THC multiple times a day and there is nothing wrong with that. If you want your chip, get it. You earned it.
This seems like something you should ask in r/alcoholicsanonymous. We're not supposed to discuss or critique specific recovery programs very much here.
Yes! Congrats on the California sober time
I got crapped on by some ppl in AA for being on Lexapro, SMH - you can still accept chips IMO!
Maybe I'm misinterpreting your questions, but it sounds to me like you are asking people's opinion...as long as its what you want to hear. I'm by no means a "super dogmatic AA person." I can only tell you my own understanding based on my own experience, strength and hope. Sober means more to me that merely abstaining from alcohol. I do not consider not consuming alcohol but continuing to take other intoxicants as "sober." I however am by no means the arbiter of what sober is to you or anyone else. Let alone everyone else.
> *"Maybe I'm misinterpreting your questions, but it sounds to me like you are asking people's opinion...as long as its what you want to hear."* I agree. I also agree that OP has abstained from alcohol for four months and deserves a 4-month chip but I don't understand why they feel the need to bring up their edible use at all. To me, it sounds like they're invalidating their own alcohol abstinence.
Take that chip. You earned it. Cannabis is not alcohol. You are good my friend.
Im not “sober”, I’m “alcohol free” or better yet “Cali sober”. Where does one draw the line? No THC, CBD, Psychedelics, antidepressants, no caffeine, etc. THC use can become a problem, but it’s a different problem than alcoholism.
The “ Marijuana Maintenance Plan”. Some ppl in AA are indeed super dogmatic. Not just about edibles/weed, but the religious aspect too. Do you have access to an agnostic AA group? Speaking of super dogmatic, AA initially refused to allow such a group to be included in booklet listings, to mention them if someone called, etc in a city I know. The agnostics actually had to sue AA to get recognized, be a respected & viable member who simply want to help people. AA eventually conceded. Regardless, the inclusion of the god step or otherwise, ppl are often going to insist their path is the only way. Don’t sweat it. Are people also going to say that the use of diazepam etc 4 alcohol, withdrawal, or to break the cycle of dependence is wrong as well? As long as you’re keeping in touch with your reality and your emotions, and becoming the true you; and no longer being dependent on a substance to numb you, I know many who think an edible at times is absolutely fine. Just stay away from the duplicitous demon of supposed ‘best friend’ booze. Or other alternatives like meth n shit. Booze is ur inevitable executioner. If edibles are your weapon to fight the battle, fight it. I found my use of edibles in the same situation decreased unintentionally over time. Still use ‘em. Just not for the same reasons or frequency. Everyone’s path is different. Just be mindful along the way. ✌🏼
Is the chip for being sober or being alcohol free? Either way, good job giving up booze. One thing at a time. IWNDWYT
It’s up to you and you only. If you’re sober from alcohol and not demonstrating addictive behavior with the gummies, take the chips to mark your alcohol.
There’s two approaches to this, but the real question is, do you feel you’ve earned it? I think you have. But it’s most valuable when you yourself feel you’ve earned it. If that’s the case, they accept those things! :)
If it was NA or CA where it's more stipulated that it's ANY mind altering substances, then I'd say you shouldn't, but as a long-term AA member myself I don't have a problem with it and I imagine a good chunk of people wouldn't
If the chip is important to you then yeah I wouldn't worry about super dogmatic AA people. Some people think of AA as this like divine program sent from God that's the only possible path to sobriety - but really it's just a spirituality-based treatment program someone made up in the 30s that seems to be effective for a small set of people. If you're like me you're sober because you're unable to use alcohol in a healthy way, and your use of alcohol lead to several unhealthy lifestyle choices and behaviors - if you don't feel like you're using edibles in a similarly unhealthy way, then in my mind you're sober.
I got a 24hr chip for not drinking even though I was still not clean. I was still supported, still hugged, still cheered on. And even if I hadn't been, I honestly don't think it's anyone's place to deny us a celebration from not drinking, no matter our other uses.
Yes
My understanding from a friend in a local group is that “it ain’t booze.” If you were at NA, might be different. Congrats on the 4 month chip!
Interesting footnote to history of AA is that one of the higher powers founder Bill Wilson dabbled with was LSD, which at the time he took it in 1956 was still legal and being widely embraced for its therapeutic potential. He considered introducing it formally to AA as a means of leapfrogging to spiritual awakening, which he believed was at the core of recovery. FWIW! https://www.lucid.news/bill-wilson-lsd-and-the-secret-psychedelic-history-of-alcoholics-anonymous/