Warmest - I think "sober" is a relative term and is very subjective. It's a personal thing and no one, IMO, has the right to point the proverbial finger at others and say that are not sober due to utilizing medical interventions that improve their life. Judge not until you've walked a mile in someone else's shoes.

What is "sober" and "addicted"?? Are you addicted if you obsessively attend 12 step meetings 9 times a week and have just replaced the booze with meetings? Are you "sober" if you've replaced booze with on-line porn and are rationalizing with yourself that because you are not ingesting a chemical substance that you are not violating your PERSONAL definition of sobriety?

People on here like to pass out the judgement based on what THEY think is sobriety yet seem quick to make excuses for their own behaviours as being "non-addictive" because it's something they personally partake in (smoking, caffeine intake, obsessive meeting attendance). WTF is up with that??

Anything prescribed under a doctor's care is good with me. I'm talking about the medical marijuana issue.

It's amazing how wound up you people get. Why my opinion would matter to any of you about your sobriety or your spouses is interesting.

And while prescription medications are well over-prescribed, many need them to function normally.

I'm here to carry a message to the people who are sick - the people who come in who are desperate, and perhaps facing death or insanity. I don't care what you pros say. You shouldn't worry about what I say. Smoke em if you got em.

I don't care what many of you think, do or what your opinion is. It's really none of my business what you think, do or say.

However, I am concerned that sometimes "the people who are sick - the people who come in who are desperate, and perhaps facing death or insanity" - don't get the complete picture and sometimes a dose of "devil's advocate" is necessary.

What makes your message any more or less important or valid than mine?

Jeffneedshelp - trust me, I don't worry about " what" you say as that speaks for itself. It's more the way you say it that gets me bent out of shape. You say you want to come on here and carry a message to people that are sick and desperate? I respect that but try having a bit of compassion and heart along with your message. It may have a bigger impact than you realize.

I use Marijuana for severe pain. It has nothing to do with my sobriety from alcohol. I can't take opiates they make me sicker than hell! Marijuana is great for pain and much less harmful than opiates and pharmaceuticals. If you had pain like I nave, you would be smoking it too, if it was the only thing that works. You can't convince me different, so don't even try! Lol

i used to smoke mj for fun and highs, but was young and immortal. Later, i smoked for pain and it was just a mental diversion. I also smoked for depression, but damn it was depressing to get lost in a stoned stupor. I would think stoner paranoia would be harsh on anxiety. to each his own.

I think this is a great issue to discuss....in a non judgemental way.

As I get older, I often wonder what I will do when ibprofen no longer controls my chronic pain. Medical marijuana is available in my state but like Joline, I don't want to live my life in a stoned stuper....but yet I don't want to hurt all the time either.

Alcohol never helped with pain but it made me forget about it for awhile. I was on narcotic pain killers but the problem was, I liked them too much and just wanted to hug everybody when I was on them and as I built a tolerance, nearly died from an accidental overdose so no doctor in his right mind will ever prescribe those to me again.

If marijuana helped to improve the quality of my life, I would be very tempted to use it but I am not at that point yet, Thank God and for someone with a chronic condition, I don't think it can be overlooked as a source or relief when nothing else will work.....

God Bless

Interesting topic .... and one that's been divisive for years.

In my journey to sobriety, after 20 years of struggling with significant periods both in and out of sobriety, I was finally diagnosed with a chemical imbalance in my brain for which medication was prescribed. Shortly thereafter I gathered the courage to actually speak at an AA meeting. The old-timers flipped out, declared me not sober and stripped my clean time.

I found lasting sobriety despite this rejection. Pot is legal in my state. I'd need a pretty significant pain issue to use it.

I live in a state where it is legal.About a year ago I decided to try it again after 25+years of not using it. I definitely got high, and was not in my normal state of being. The phrase I used to hear was "clean & sober", at that point I would consider myself sober, but definitely not clean.
This issue is obviously a lively one. How you choose to see it is up to you. This is your journey in getting 'clean & sober'. At the end of the day when it's just you and no one else, whatever you decide is up to you. Good luck I to all.

I don't use marajuana but hubs is a huge pot smoker. I am not talking about taking a few hits here and there. He will buy a lot and smoke it all of the time until it is gone. Drives me nuts. He has been sober about 3 months. He does NOT use it for any medical conditions. When he is abusing pot, he is lazy, unhealthy, snappy in the morning, and down right mean when he is having withdrawal symptoms. I know I may spark some controversy on here, but I am one to believe that it is an addictive substance. So are prescription drugs though and if you have a prescription for it, have at it! RISKS vs. REWARDS. Everybody has to decide.

My belief is its a personal decision and how others view my sobriety is their opinion.

Callie, I am uninterested in arguing with you on this topic or any other. I think we've discussed this. We both value our sobriety and we find our sobriety with the help of the same program.

F F, you're easily agitated by me. My biggest issue with marijuana in particular, which I've used many times in my life, though not after having sobriety, is that people want to use it because it's the easier softer way. I'm not talking about legitimate pain sufferers. I'm talking about the people who want to numb themselves and self/medicate from the same problems that they drank over.

I am a believer that drinking really isn't the problem, it is a solution, that doesn't solve anything. Fixing the inside helped me stop drinking, and curbed my mental obsession. My awareness of my chemical obsession is always on alert.

I never had a problem with pot. But I know what it can do. Like Citychick is experiencing, I've seen good and smart people go to mush from pot. I don't need any substance to numb pain. I fee pain and explore the cause of it. I like being in tune with my life, the good and the bad.

I liked BobInMaine's comment, "If marijuana helped to improve the quality of my life, I would be very tempted to use it but I am not at that point yet." I'm not at that point yet either. If I get there I hope I can control it as well as I control meds prescribed now, the usual bunch psychiatrists prescribe to people like me. Yes, I've gone through the regiment of trying a variety of prescribed drugs in varying amounts. They help a lot, but I am not happy with my mood or aches. Not in a terrible pain or terrible mood. Just as a retired senior citizen, I would like to elevate my mood.

Again, I thank everyone that posted here. It gives me a lot to think about.

Jeffneedshelp - here is what you said in your first quote : "Medical marijuana is a farce for someone who has a drinking problem or any other substance abuse issues"
and then you go on to say " I'm not talking about legitimate pain sufferers". You only made that clarification after many people got upset with you. BTW, what is your definition of "legitimate" pain?

And cases like CityChick's husband have nothing to do what we're talking about. He doesn't use pot for medicinal purposes.

I don't get "easily agitated" by you, Jeff. I don't know you so that would be impossible. I DO get offended at the manner in which you address people and your cold and abrupt replies. There's a big difference.

Just to verify - I meant that CC's husband uses recreationally which is not what you and I were specifically butting heads about.

Although I still believe if someone smokes pot it is THEIR business as to whether they consider themselves "sober" or not.