Dear Mary Jane,

Written by, Anonymous

I am done. I’m done wasting every single moment of every day getting high. You will not steal any more time away from me. For the last eight years of my life, you were my best friend, my partner, my home. You were my safety. You were everything to me, but you also stole from me everything that was precious in my life. All of the money I had saved, I spent it on you. All the love I had to give, I wasted on you. The countless days, months, and years that I gave to you. What did I get in return? Nothing. 

For each thing that I thought you gave me (happiness, relief, escapism), you took a thousand more away. I lost my dreams, goals, and ambitions. You stole my independence. You stole my emotions. You stole my ability to learn how to cope with my feelings or even the most minor of inconveniences. I didn’t apply for a job because you were more important to me. I didn’t go out to celebrate birthdays, holidays, you name it. All because I couldn’t stand to be away from you for even an hour. I was a miserable and spiteful human being who couldn’t fathom doing anything without being high. Our time is done. MY time is done. You won’t ever take that away from me again. We are not partners, nor are we friends. I’m taking my time back.

Published in A New Leaf – June 2025

  • I Am Not Alone

    Written by, Anneliese B. If someone had told me five, ten, fifteen, or twenty years ago that I’d be a part of a worldwide, loving fellowship of marijuana addicts, I don’t know that I’d have believed them. I had resigned myself to a lifetime of marijuana smoking, and therefore to a lifetime of isolation, fantasized…

    I Am Not Alone
  • Celebrating 37 Years since the 1st MA Unity Conference

    This month we honor MA’s Unity Conference in Morro Bay, CA – June 16-18, 1989 and within this month’s issue of A New Leaf, we have included “A Brief History of MA,” from Life with Hope. Without our founders, MA might not exist today! They bravely spoke up about marijuana addiction in other 12-Step programs,…

    Celebrating 37 Years since the 1st MA Unity Conference
  • It’s Time To Fly

    Written by, Toni H. Dear Marijuana, I guess I never thought I’d write this letter but it’s time for us to break up. You’ve been there for me more consistently than most things throughout my life and I will give you credit for that. When I was young, you helped me find community amongst other…

    It’s Time To Fly
  • NEW WAYS

    Written by, Kaya G. Better boundaries, growing self-care and love,Break the habit, rise and move above. Find new ways to operate and exist,A clearer life that once was missed. Change perspective without the victim mentality,Step outside that old reality. Stand upright, reclaim the ground,Hear a truer inner sound. Create a new way of understanding my…

    NEW WAYS
  • Hazy Fog by NH

    Written by, Natalie H. V1:After all the puffs in a cloud of smoke when you’re down and out and at the end of your rope. Just know there’s hope somewhere for you there’s a light that shines got to see it through. Chorus:Each day will get a little better you’ll find a way to beat…

    Hazy Fog by NH
  • Where The Butterflies Live

    Written by, Michael J. Where the Butterflies Live The butterflies landed on wildflowers.They carried a message,“Your serenity has been taken.” The butterflies landed on wildflowers.I knew how to numb,to distract,to be busy,unconscious. The butterflies landed on wildflowers.I’d traded serenity.I received boredom.Not peace,loneliness. The butterflies landed on wildflowers.They said,“This right here,The silence of wind,The warmth on…

    Where The Butterflies Live