A Simple Conversation

the shadow of a person in a boardroom

Written by, Michael J.

A fellow’s post reminded me of a simple conversation I had this morning with the love of my life. It was about how taking something non-narcotic to help me sleep only works if I take it about once a month. If taken more often than that, it does nothing.

That simple conversation awakened Little Addict, who fidgets in the dark corner of my internal boardroom.

Little Addict softly whispered, “Remember how leaving pot alone for a few weeks made that first high so good?”

Little Addict stood and spoke a little louder, “You’re able to accept not sleeping well for weeks, knowing you will get a good night’s sleep soon.”

As Little Addict approached, he said louder, “If you can leave the sleeping aids alone for a month, surely you can leave the weed alone just as long.”

Then Little Addict rose on his toes and shouted in my face, “You could do that! You could get high once a month!!!”

I looked around the boardroom. All the other voices were silent, except one. That one voice said, firmly, and clearly, with no shout to add to its truth,

“Bullshit.”

That was the voice of the part of me that loves me. That is the voice that a power greater than myself placed within me. I listened to that voice.

Published in A New Leaf – February 2026

More Articles

  • 18 Months Mile-Stone

    Created by, Chris P. Published By A New Leaf – March 2026

    18 Months Mile-Stone
  • An MA Miracle

    Written by, Stefania M. *Trigger Warning: Sexual Abuse, Child Abuse and Threats Against Life* Hi everyone, my name is Stefania, and I am a marijuana addict. Generation X here and grew up as a hard core Italian. A generation of new breakthroughs, independence and resilience. The generation of “Lachie” kids. Also a beautiful culture, one…

    An MA Miracle
  • Celebrating 30 Days

    Written by, Manuel G Yesterday I reached 30 days without using, and today I want to celebrate that milestone. But this time, I understand something very different: this is not the result of my willpower, my discipline, or my ability to rationalize my way out of addiction. This time I understand that I am here…

    Celebrating 30 Days
  • 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