In the past, Miley Cyrus was well-known for her wild reputation. The singer was very public about her love for weed, mentioning it in songs, interviews and music videos. So, does Miley Cyrus still smoke marijuana, or is she sober today? Find out everything we know about her timeline of substance use and recovery.
Does Miley Cyrus Still Smoke Weed? What She’s Publicly Shared About Her Sobriety Journey
Is Miley Cyrus sober? As of a June 2024 interview, the singer says she is “mostly sober” and only has an occasional puff of marijuana when she’s around her mom, who smokes heavily.
Cyrus has had a long on-again-off-again relationship with weed.
In 2017, the singer first announced she had quit weed to focus on her upcoming album. On The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Cyrus stated, “I stopped smoking because, to sit here and to talk about what I’m doing, I wanted to be really clear. Because I’m actually the most passionate about what I’m doing with this record.”
In the same interview, Cyrus also mentioned having a nightmare of being “so stoned that she would die.” So her decision was likely partly due to the side effects she experienced from smoking too much weed.
In a 2018 interview, the singer talked about her mother’s heavy marijuana use and influence. But Cyrus set parameters around when she’d smoke. “My mom got me back on it. When I’m just working, I don’t think I function at my highest, most intelligent, most being able to be as aware and as present, so I don’t smoke when I work.”
In November 2019, the singer underwent vocal cord surgery and had to get sober for the procedure. She decided to carry on with her sobriety, and by 2020, Cyrus had achieved 6 months without drugs or alcohol.
In a Variety Big Ticket podcast, Cyrus stated that she loved being sober but mentioned the attached stigma. “It’s really hard because, especially being young, there’s that stigma of ‘you’re no fun.’ It’s like, ‘Honey, you can call me a lot of things, but I know that I’m fun.’ The thing that I love about it is waking up 100%, 100% of the time. I don’t want to wake up feeling groggy. I want to wake up feeling ready.”
Fast-forward to 2024 and the singer says she’s “mostly sober” but is flexible with it. However, after an incident with her mom’s weed, she now mostly just pretends to take a puff. “I don’t smoke my mom’s weed anymore. The last time I smoked her weed was a couple of weeks ago, and I did walk in and take the smallest puff ever, and I couldn’t drive for what felt like 3 days and I didn’t know who I was.”
In 2025, Cyrus reconfirmed her commitment to sobriety. “I’ve learned this about myself over the years. The sobriety is like, that’s like my God. I need it, I live for it. I mean, it’s changed my entire life.”
Navigating Fame, Identity and Substance Use in the Spotlight
Cyrus’s substance abuse and recovery arc isn’t surprising. In fact, it’s often typical for people who experience fame at a young age.
The actress and singer became famous at age 13 when she landed the role of Hannah Montana. After years of appealing to a young Disney audience, she wanted to remake her image when she turned 18. As she transitioned from Hannah Montana to Miley Cyrus in the public eye, she adopted a more mature persona. She began dressing more provocatively and talking openly about her marijuana use.
The pressure of fame was likely hard to deal with, and the media had a lot to say about Cyrus’ switch from Disney sweetheart to pop star and wild child. Like many other child stars, Cyrus may have turned to substances such as alcohol and weed to cope with the media scrutiny.
Why Miley Cyrus Chose Sobriety and What It’s Meant for Her Mental Health
In one interview in which Cyrus discussed her sobriety, she mentioned she wasn’t a “moderation person.” Drinking had to go because she couldn’t do it at an appropriate level: “I don’t think that everyone has to be sober; everyone has to do what’s best for them. I don’t have a problem with drinking, I have a problem with the decisions I make once I go past [a certain] level.”
In 2020, she briefly went back to drinking but quickly realized it wasn’t the right decision. Cyrus believed she needed to do this to get to where she is today. While talking with Variety, she said, “I know I needed to fall one more time. And I just, I had to. It just never would have happened this way. I just never would have been sitting here.”
Miley Cyrus’ addiction story didn’t make headlines. There were no overdoses or trips to rehab. Instead, there was self-reflection and growth as she continued on her long-term recovery journey. The singer also reflected on her family’s history with addiction when evaluating her decision to become sober.
“I’ve been sober-sober for the past 6 months. At the beginning, it was just about this vocal surgery … I did a lot of family history, which has a lot of addiction and mental health challenges. So just going through that and asking, ‘Why am I the way that I am?’ By understanding the past, we understand the present and the future much more clearly.”
How Celebrity Stories Help Destigmatize Addiction
Miley Cyrus could have hidden her substance use struggles from the public. But her willingness to share her story helps destigmatize the topic of addiction. The singer’s story is one of resilience — she tried to get sober repeatedly until it stuck. She never gave up. Cyrus is a happier, healthier person today thanks to her commitment to recovery. Fans struggling with the same substance use issues can look to her and see an example of success.
Cyrus’s story also highlights how addiction doesn’t discriminate. It can happen to anyone, regardless of their status. Every time she discusses her journey from addiction to recovery, she helps reduce the stigma surrounding substance use and inspires others to get help.
Addiction Treatment at FHE Health
If you’re struggling with addiction, you don’t have to go through it on your own. Recovery is possible, and seeking professional help is the first step. At FHE Health, we offer comprehensive treatment programs for addiction and mental health conditions. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you on your own recovery journey.
