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The Daily Dish Vanderpump Rules

Here’s What Raquel Leviss Thinks of James Kennedy Being "California Sober"

The Vanderpump Rules couple opens up about the DJ's sobriety.

By Jocelyn Vena
Start Watching the Vanderpump Rules Season 9 Premiere Now!

Vanderpump Rules' James Kennedy has been proudly sober for more than two years now — and while he's given up drinking alcohol, he still smokes weed.

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In the Season 9 premiere, Raquel Leviss opened up about her now-fiancé's sobriety (as you can see in the clip first shared with Bravo Insider members, above). "James has made so much progress," she said in an interview in the episode. "He's been sober ever since I gave the ultimatum to him." Of James smoking weed, she added, "I guess you can say that James is a California sober."

In the same episode, James noted, "Life's been great for me. I'm actually doing better without the alcohol."

Back in July, he reflected on hitting two years sober. "I'M 2 YEARS SOBER TODAY. Thank you everyone that has supported me and my journey so far. Here’s to many more years alcohol free #forlife (to anyone struggling trust me the light at the end is brighter [than] anything I could [have] imagined. [And] if I can do it you can too)," he said. "[Every day] I get more clarity. I'm clear headed. I can see where I'm at."

When James and Raquel were on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen this week, they opened up about the topic, which recently came up during a previous episode of WWHL when fellow cast member Lala Kent, who is also sober, commented on the subject. Lala shared her opinion that she doesn't see "California sober" as sober.

James responded this week in the Clubhouse, "I will be honest, the weed it helped me quit the alcohol for good. And it's like, I will quit weed, also, when the time comes, but it's like, I just don't feel like I should quit right now. There's no point, it doesn't harm me." He added, "It doesn't affect my life in a negative way, so why quit?"

Raquel then shared her take on the topic during the WWHL appearance. "I don't mind when he smokes weed because his issue doesn't lie with weed; it lies with alcohol," she said.

To hear more from James and Raquel on the matter, you can press play on the WWHL clip, below.

Will James Kennedy Stop Using Weed?

Following their appearance on the show, James shared a sweet tribute to his future bride. "I must take a quick second and congratulate the love of my life!" he wrote on Instagram. "I think she has come such a long way and done so much growing up she’s my everything and I’m proud and so in love keep inspiring me everyday." 

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