Marijuana Anonymous

Founded in the late 1980s, Marijuana Anonymous is a 12-step support group similar to Alcoholics Anonymous that helps people recovering from marijuana addiction. Meetings are free and provide an opportunity for members to support each other in their sobriety.
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Marijuana Anonymous, or MA, is a 12-step recovery program modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous.

One of the common misconceptions about marijuana is that it’s not addictive. In fact, studies indicate that about 9 percent of people who use marijuana develop a dependency on it. Roughly one-third of people who use marijuana will develop a problem with the drug, or a marijuana use disorder, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Following the 12-step approach of groups like AA and Narcotics Anonymous, Marijuana Anonymous promotes a spiritual recovery that encourages members to admit they no longer have control over their lives and surrender to a higher power.

With support from other group members, members work the various steps of the program, which involve admitting mistakes, making amends and eventually sharing the message of recovery with others suffering from addiction.

The 12 Steps of Marijuana Anonymous:

A key element of self-help groups like Marijuana Anonymous is fellowship. Meetings provide a free and confidential forum for people to discuss their problems with marijuana and share stories of how they achieved sobriety.

Some participants may choose to have a sponsor. A sponsor is another member of the group who has made progress in recovery and can serve as a guide and confidante to help another member maintain sobriety.

Finding the right sponsor is just as important as finding one at all. A good sponsor is trustworthy, available when needed and positive.

History of Marijuana Anonymous

For decades, individuals fighting to overcome marijuana addiction didn’t have their own dedicated self-help group — and many who attended 12-step programs designed to address other problems often felt out of place.

By the late 1980s, several small groups aimed at addressing the unique challenges of marijuana addiction began sprouting up in several California cities. In 1989, these small groups joined together to form one organization, which became Marijuana Anonymous.

Today, local chapters of MA host meetings in nearly every state and in several countries around the world. Phone meetings and online chats are available for those unable to attend in-person meetings.

Marijuana Anonymous holds an annual convention focused on topics related to recovery from marijuana addiction. The group publishes a monthly newsletter called A New Leaf, featuring first-person recovery stories.

An important resource about the MA program is Life with Hope, a book similar to The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Life with Hope is available for free on the Marijuana Anonymous website. The book explains the 12 steps of the program in detail as they apply to marijuana addicts.

Do 12-Step Programs Work?

While 12-step programs aren’t a substitute for marijuana addiction treatment, they can provide important benefits to individuals in recovery.

Peer support is a key component of recovery. Through groups like Marijuana Anonymous, people can easily meet like-minded individuals who can share emotional support and insights about marijuana addiction.

A 2016 study in the journal Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation notes that support groups help people build healthier coping skills, and participants tend to have more confidence in their ability to stay sober.

Providing support to others in recovery and performing service work in the community have also been shown to help with long-term sobriety.

According to a 2013 study in the journal Social Work in Public Health, members of AA and NA who attended two to four meetings a week reported between one and five years of sobriety, on average. Membership surveys indicated that 45 percent of AA members and 55 percent of NA members had been sober for more than five years.

Finding a Meeting

If you are looking for a Marijuana Anonymous meeting, the organization’s website has a section where you can search for in-person or virtual meetings.

You can also search for meetings using the group’s free mobile recovery app. If you’d like to start a new meeting in your area, MA has an online starter kit to guide you through the process.

Author

Marijuana Anonymous (MA) is a support group designed specifically for people with an addiction to marijuana. It uses the same concept as Alcoholics Anonymous. Members attend meetings, sponsor one another and follow the 12 steps of the recovery program. Addictions are difficult to overcome alone. Support groups help users deal with day-to-day life without the use of drugs.

What Marijuana Dependency Looks Like

Marijuana produces a sense of euphoria and relaxation for users. Chronic users often lose their ambitions, dreams and motivations. Users focus more on their high rather than living a meaningful life. It becomes difficult to focus and concentrate on daily tasks in school, at work and even at home. It also has additional negative mental and physical effects including:

In a 2008 report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an estimated 4.2 million Americans were dependent on drugs. Approximately 15 percent of users in drug treatment programs listed marijuana as their primary drug of choice. The same report indicated that in 2008, marijuana use was a factor in over 374,000 emergency room visits.

Widespread Use and Addiction in the U.S.

Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are the top three most commonly used drugs in the country. The fourth most commonly used drug is marijuana. Marijuana use began to increase in the 1960s and 1970s. Proponents for easing marijuana laws point to its potential medicinal uses. They frequently quote a report from the Institute of Medicine that confirms the medicinal uses for marijuana; however, the same report expresses concern that legalizing marijuana for medicinal use would increase access to non-medical users.

The social debate about the medical use of marijuana provides addicts with the argument that marijuana is not physically harmful. All drugs, even prescription drugs, are physically harmful when used for recreation and not a legitimate medical condition.

“If you are addicted to marijuana, you are well aware of the impact it has over your life .”If you are addicted to marijuana, you are well aware of the impact it has over your life. The addiction becomes the center of life, controlling everything you do. It is a progressive illness and can lead to other addictions, including alcohol abuse.

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Deer Hollow Recovery & Wellness
7904 Nordic Trail Lane
Brighton, Utah 84121

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Sunrise House Treatment Center
37 Sunset Inn Road
Lafayette, New Jersey 07848

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Synergy Executive
2608 Smyrna Road
Ozark, Missouri 65721 4

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Recovery Centers of America at Westminster
9 Village Inn Road
Westminster, Massachusetts 01473

What Withdrawing Feels Like

Withdrawal symptoms from marijuana are relatively mild and include: