Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Help Header

Home Page
Shop
Advertising
Contact Us

Can You Smoke Prescribed Marijuana in AA ?

I stopped drinking years ago after going to AA meetings. I'm still very active and have no desire to drink. I have a spiritual practice and I live a healthy life.

I have had a chronic case of insomnia for most of my life and have been prescribed numerous sleeping pills which are all either addictive or they can give you horrible hangovers.

After almost 10 years of this my Doctor suggested legal marijuana to use as a sleep aid. The studies show that this is way less harmful than all those chemicals etc. so I tried it and it works. It really helps. I wake up feeling great, get on with my day and that's that.
Is this ok in AA ??

Answer

You'll have to ask your sponsor or someone really in the know about all the rules of AA as to whether they would deem it acceptable.

But if it works for you and there is a clear medical reason for it, then I don't think it should really matter. Not everything is black and white, and sometimes there are valid reasons for differing from guidelines prescribed in something like AA.

But you have to be really honest with yourself in all this - if there is any danger in your medicinal marijuana use becoming anything more than that, then it's just not something you should be risking your sobriety with.

If you're sure you've tried every available 'natural' avenue and aid, e.g. meditation before going to bed, natural supplements like melatonin magnesium, valerian, 5HTP and St Johns Wort etc. - then go for it. You know yourself better than anyone else does, so if you're absolutely sure marijuana provides no risk to your sobriety, trust your instincts.

But if you want to find the official AA view on this, you'll have to ask them directly. It's not something I think you want too many people knowing about, but try and speak to someone active in AA who's opinion you respect and who will be able to give you as impartial an answer as possible about doing what's best for you.

All the Best

Comments for Can You Smoke Prescribed Marijuana in AA ?

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Rating

Going To ANY Length to Maintain Optimum Health NEW
by: Anonymous

i MUST AGREE. THE BIG BOOK CLEARLY STATES THAT
WE 'DO NOT GIVE MEDICAL ADVICE',,,,ONTO CLEARLY
ADVISING US ALL TO SEE OUR DOCTORS, RABBIS, CLERGY, THERAPISTS, ETC. FOR OUR, 'OUTSIDE
ISSUES'.

WHEN INCORPORATING MED. MARIJUANA, FOR A VERY
DEBILITATING MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS, I AM VERY
CAREFUL NOT TO MENTION AT GROUP LEVEL.

WE, 'HAVE QUIT THE DEBATING SOCIETY'....
THEREFORE, AGAIN IT IS NONE OF AA'S PRIMARY
PURPOSE, TO DIRECT, MANAGE, CONTROL, AND FINALLY
PLAY 'ARMCHAIR', DOCTOR, PSYCHIATRIST, ETC. TO ANYONE!

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE BIG BOOK WE BEGIN
TO UNDERSTAND, WITH TIME, THAT 'ALCOHOL, AND BOTTLES', WERE JUST SYMPTOMS OF, 'GRAVE EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL DISORDERS'.
WE HAD TO GET DOWN TO 'Causes and conditions'...
(take what you like, and leave the rest!).

Pain is inevitable...suffering is optional...

AA is complete, and makes it known, these
are all 'suggestions.' If a qualified physician sees a need for med. marijuana, for a myriad of health reasons, and that individual remains true to their commitment of not drinking as well, then who asked us to judge?

Times have changes, thank God...
Dismisss any naysayers, in fact, keep it between your physician and yourself!

Rating

medical marijuana NEW
by: Anonymous

I had my last drink in Feb. of 1975. First there are no "rules" in AA, only suggested steps. I am 75 years old and have a medical marijuana card for lower back and neck pain. I have been able to divest myself of all prescription pain killers, and have no problem about what others think of my program, that works for me. I think that opinions tend to separate and have nothing to do with sharing your experience, strength and hope, and are best kept to yourself, i.e. live and let live. I have the same problem with bleeding deacons in AA as I did in the Southern Baptist upbringing.

Rating

Too cloudy NEW
by: Anonymous

My sobriety, although painful and confusing at times has been my life for almost 30 years. About 3 years ago I had a horrible relapse after a surgery had gone wrong. I changed my sobriety date but do not feel it was deserved. Number 1, I did not drink and that is a big number one.

However, I picked up a pot habit again. It all happened so naturally. I'm now in between - not all in AA 'cause I cannot claim pure sobriety anymore. Yet smoking to cope with daily mundane issues.

It is my hope another upswing is coming into my life again. I need a lift of goodness.

Rating

30+ years of sobriety NEW
by: Deborah

I have nearly 31 years of sobriety. Unfortunately, as I get older, I've developed some significant pain issues (arthritis and fibromyalgia). Unfortunately, I've been unable to take the standard pain medications (NSAIDs because of kidney and narcotics because they don't work over the long haul). I've tried all the over the counter meds like Turmeric, etc. I've tried acupuncture, massage, meditation, mindfulness, walking, cognitive work, the steps, etc. All, to no avail. In my lifetime, I've never been a drug addict. Some of us simply, are not. I've decided, after doing the research, to try MMJ. It enabled me to sleep well and, if I can do that, I can cope with pain better. I decided to only take it at night (one dose a day). It has been incredibly helpful but, I've had to stop doing meetings that confused other issues to alcoholism.

Rating

Try stopping if using NEW
by: Anonymous

If it is non-addictive and an outside issue of AA, simply stop using and see what happens. If you are not affected there is your answer, if you are having thoughts of relapse or similar you were probably not sober to begin with.

If you aren't using yet but thinking about it, be brutally honest with yourself of why are you messing with your sobriety.

I struggle with ism's constantly and am working to get through as many of them as possible on a daily basis. I am not condoning or condemning it, is your sobriety not mine. Go into with your eyes wide open.

Rating

Rules? NEW
by: Anonymous

There are no rules in AA.

Rating

Rules? NEW
by: Anonymous

There are no rules in AA.

Rating

smoking pot affecting AA/sobriety? NEW
by: deb from wisconsin

former health professional, just had 28th sobriety birthday. take clonazepam for TBI (traumatic brain injury)/anxiety/bipolar disorder. socially am overwhelmed with overload of conversations, distractions…anxiety, poor sleep, which aggravates memory problems, balance, pain, depression, social fear (and over talk from nervousness and TBI).

have been preoccupied with marijuana as a trial vs the large seroquel, lamictal, ropinerole, clonazepam. (i was an RN and use essential oils, meditation, gratitude lists, therapy, alanon, accupressure….and i'm exhausted….i'm overtired, have slept poorly past 3 days, and really am like a little toddler, perspective off needing a good nap.

the area i'm in is FUNDAMENTALIST (go to meetings daily or more, shame and guilt repeatedly, worshipping 'old timers' (like we have a spiritual phd, vs just more experience not drinking). am going thru painful abusive divorce…battered women's shelter, robbed X2, homeless, ICU X2 (severe blood infection/pneumonia)…i am tired….spouse is lying, and he gets his 6200/month, while i get 1200 before meds, insurance, etc. and it is what it is. i have a mattress i sleep on, and really am grateful for my little service dog, simon. i'm 58 as of this week, and it's a new chapter, with a new me (can't drive, poor face recognition, don't' know yr or month, etc) but am out of walker, learned to read, am doing great.

would love to hear info. i smoked pot 3 times (last one was in late 70s i think…the very first star wars movie.) deb

Rating

17 Years Sober NEW
by: Anonymous

After 17 years sober and drug free, I am now using measured ingested doses of medical marijuana to treat chronic pain. I was afraid to take prescribed narcotics, and the nsaids have their own issues taken in large doses, as does the ambien I was taking to aid sleep.

Small dose of MMJ eaten provides total pain relief for 4-6 hours, no need for sleep meds. I have not smoked any, but may try vaping as a delivery method for quicker relief. I wake up fine, the pain builds during the day, and I dose about 7-8pm and am good. 10-15mg does it.

Still going to AA, which has no opinion on outside issues, the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, period.

I will possibly be finding a new sponsor who is okay with MMJ as a prescribed med in sobriety. My current one is a purist, "real alcoholic." I will also talk with my one sponsee, so he can make a decision whether to find a new sponsor. My wife has mixed feelings, but is becoming more optimistic, as am I.

Nice to be pain-free for the first time in years, and naturally, without any addictive pharmaceuticals. The low dose of MMJ is non-euphoric, with amazing analgesic effects.

Rating

This sounds familiar... NEW
by: Anonymous

I'm currently 14 years sober and in talks with my sponsor and close friends about trying medical marijuana. I was recently diagnosed with crohns disease, I have a severe back injury as well as PTSD from my service in the military. I'm on a bunch of medications for inflammation, pain and various meds for GI issues. The side effects from some of these medications suck and I'm worried about long term problems from taking all these medications. I've been doing some research and learning that if I switch to medical marijuana that I would have less side effects and would be able to discontinue all of my medications. The thought of being off all medications and not dealing with these side effects sounds almost too good to be true. But needless to say that I'm in fear about trying marijuana. Just felt like I needed to get this out there.

Rating

be careful
by: Anonymous

There is a false equivalency between mood altering drugs, such as antidepressants, and mind altering drugs, such as marijuana. Beware of anybody who tries to relate one to the other.

Marijuana is still essentially a street drug. There are no strict tolerances. It's also addictive, and will likely arouse the phenomenon of craving. This is scientific fact.

I've been sober close to 24 years. The guy who carried the message to me was taking morphine for his bone cancer. Can't blame him. I sponsored a guy who had to take oxy for his spinal fusion. He wound up changing his date, because he got strung out on it. I also sponsored a guy who had to smoke pot, after having half his stomach removed from stomach cancer. He wound up getting strung out on pot, and never made it back into the program. I wasn't a doctor, so I never told any of them to stop. I simply tried to be there as they were struggling with their pain and meds.

It is my experience that the benefits of the program will not happen while you are getting high, But that's just me. Smoking pot may work for some people, and it may even keep them off the booze of the other drugs, but that's not what AA is about, in my experience.

Last, remember that this is a deadly disease. Insomnia is not a deadly disease. It sucks, but weigh the consequences of the two. I've seen lots of people die over the years who could not get sober. Just saw one die this weekend. You might be better off trying antihistamines, which are non-narcotic, and non-addictive, and having to drink an extra cup of coffee in the morning, than screwing around with your sobriety. Just remember, it's a lot easier to stay sober than it is to get sober. I've seen plenty of people never be able to get this again, or take many years, once they are out.

Good luck and god bless.

Rating

Marighuana and me
by: Buckslyr06

Things I dont need in my program which I dont need or are trying to place my sobriety secont ,last or not there, i cut them loose and dont ever try to mend any of these issues. I simply don"t have any time in my day than when thinking about a void filled when I was high-n-drunk or the one created on the value of Med Pot to my 13.75 yrs of sobriety. I have cleaned up my act that long and while i focusus on one day at a time.Heck I was able to break a 3pk a day addiction, just for love i guess.
My Degenerative disc disorder has me in a stranglehold, but i have been investigating the use of Pot as a breakthru treatment,havent told a soul. Ug-oh ,what a relief it is??

Rating

I am having the same issue - help!
by: Anonymous

Hello,

I read your post and have been completely sober for 2 1/2 years. I have had major sleep problems since I've been sober - enough that I now have physical symptoms (fibromyalgia). I have tried a number of sleeping meds, including benzo's, herbs, Lunesta, etc. My doctor is recommending I start taking a low dose of Elavil at night, an anti-drepressant with a sedative effect. I hear over time though tolerance builds and you need to keep increasing the dosage. I am really against being on anti-depressants and know marijuana helps me sleep great (from past experience). In the past, my main addictions were pain killers/alcohol. I would love to hear from anyone what they would recommend in my situation and also would like to speak with them further. Please email me at drewjc18@aol.com . Would be a huge help!

Thank you,

Andrew

Rating

3rd tradition
by: Another member

outside issue, 3rd tradition covers it. However I would add rigorous honesty. do it legal and I wouldn't flaunt it around the general group because some people have a real problem with weed and it could tempt them. Those are just my thoughts. Not to mention if I were to relapse on these benzos I might die.I think weed is way less harmful than pills.
Bottom line for me is that I will be on meds for life and the ones I am currently on are a greater evil that weed.

Rating

Extraordinarily complicated?
by: Anonymous

Marijuana would be an outside issue, in as much as it A A has no opinion on outside issues, any conflicts would be with the individual rather than the group. Becomes it surely complicated due to the fact that the doctor rights of physicians order for medical marijuana and illegal state, is that better for example than Ativan or other addictive prescription medications? Ohio for example with people under age 30, most deaths are as a result of legal medications. So what's the answer, what you make a decision for yourself I guess you're right back where everybody starts, who really knows. The one thing that is known for sure is that alcohol creates a lot more violence with its outcomes than does marijuana.

Rating

Medical Marijuana in AA
by: Anonymous

I would say that it is a outside issue. AA is for Alcholics that dont want to drink. I have been sober for 4 and a half years. I dont smoke or ingest marijuana at this time but do take St Johns wart and other pills when required for back aches or pain. Alchohol and Cocaine were very problematic for me. However if you can smoke a little pot and sleep and feel better with your Dr's approval my hat is of to you. My friend has been sober from booze and hard drugs for over 20 years, He lives in a state that allows medical marijuana and he partakes. For the same reason he could not sleep and was having stomach and digestive problems from the sleeping pills. Just keep coming back. Oh yeah this is just a opinion.

Rating

In my opinion yes
by: Anonymous

The only requirement for membership in AA is a desire to stop drinking.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Drug and Alcohol Addiction Questions.

Return to Alcoholism Help and Drug Addiction Help Home Page

+1 Alcoholism-and-Drug-Addiction-Help.com