Whether it be in A New Leaf’s monthly publication, new and revised member stories pamphlets, future updated editions of Life with Hope and the Life with Hope 12-Step Workbook, and/or a future book of member stories, our shared goal in creating new MA literature is to provide hope and carry the message of recovery. By sharing our experience, strength, and hope, we grow as people and as a fellowship. We provide inspiration to new and long-time members alike through our literature.

As the fellowship of. MA grows and develops, MA literature too must also grow and develop to adapt to the changing landscape of cannabis / marijuana use, such as legalization in many states. Our members have new experiences to share, and therefore, have new stories to add to MA’s literature. Events, like the pandemic and subsequent growth of virtual meetings, have also changed the fellowship, including how members find MA, find and experience sponsorship, are of service, and what their experiences in MA are like in general.

We seek submissions to expand the scope of stories and content included to reach members with varying experiences, for a forthcoming book of new MA stories, for inclusion in updated and new MA pamphlets, and for publication in MA’s monthly creative publication, A New Leaf. 

In particular, we are seeking to shed light on diverse stories not yet told in MA’s literature, and stories from MA members who come from a wide cross-section of the community, including diverse identities not yet represented in MA literature. In addition to stories from members about their identities and recovery, this also includes stories about working a Step or Tradition (from ANLPs Monthly Prompts: ANLP12.org/monthly-prompts) and other A New Leaf Prompts. Developments in the landscape of cannabis use disorder, such as an increased awareness and diagnosis of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), and Cannabinoid Induced Psychosis (CIP) also warrant the development of new pamphlets to share stories from other members who have experienced either of these side effects of marijuana addiction.

As more member experiences come to light, we hope to continue developing and adding to the library of MA resources, pamphlets and llterature available to those who are struggling with marijuana addiction / cannabis use disorder, members, loved ones, and healthcare and other professionals. Ensuring our literature grows with the fellowship is a key part of ensuring there will continue to be an MA available for many years to come, as Life with Hope states: “It is our responsibility to do what we can to make sure that MA continues to be there for us, for the marijuana addict who still suffers, and for the addict who is not yet born.” – Life with Hope, Step Twelve, pages 58-59

These are suggestions only. So long as your story is more than a “drugalogue,” and focuses more on carrying the message of recovery, or sharing experience, strength and hope and/or “what it’s like now,” we’d love you to send in your story!

“How can we tell you how to recover? We cannot. All we can do is share with you our own experiences and recovery through the Twelve Steps of Marijuana Anonymous. “ – Life with Hope, 3rd edition, Forward to First Edition, page xi.

MA’s literature, including the 12-Steps, is at the heart of our program of recovery from cannabis use disorder.

MA’s foundational text, Life with Hope (3rd Ed.) and the companion Life with Hope 12-Step Workbook, explain the 12-Steps of Marijuana Anonymous, and feature 15 member stories sharing their experience, strength, and hope for recovery from marijuana addiction, and also contains a chapter called “A Doctor’s Opinion on Marijuana Addiction.” The 12-Step Workbook has questions, exercises, and activities to guide you through your recovery using MA’s 12-Steps. Life with Hope and the Workbook are designed to be worked through with the guidance of a sponsor. They also will soon be available on the MA website for free in the resource library at MA12.org/library (coming soon).

Life with Hope and the companion Life with Hope 12-Step Workbook can now be purchased in print directly from ANLP (at a special discounted price) and at an even greater discount for bulk orders of 10 or more copies, as well as from other retailers, and in other formats, all listed below.

• Purchase orint copies of Life with Hope and the companion Life with Hope 12-Step Workbook directly from the ANLP Website’s Bookstore at a discount:
• Bulk Order Form to order 10+ copies of Life with Hope or the Workbook: ANLP12.org/bulk
• Order print copies of Life with Hope and the Workbook from other retailers such as such as Amazon and Hazelden, and Thriftbooks.
• Life with Hope is also available as ebooks from ANLP, as well as a number of other retailers listed on the ANLP website, such as from Amazon for use on Kindle.
• A special reprint of the First Edition of Life with Hope to celebrate MA’s 30th Anniversary is also available for purchase from ANLP (note: this version does not contain tmember stories, or “A Doctor’s Opinion” that are included in later editions).
• A newly re-recorded and remastered audiobook of Life with Hope is also now available for purchase from a vairety of retailers – for more information (and to purchase) visit ANLP’s store here. An older edition of Life with Hope can also be listened to on the MA website for free here.
• Life with Hope and the Workbook are also available to download for personal use or use in MA meeetings for free from the MA website’s resource library at MA12.org/library (coming soon)

Living Every Day with Hope, MA’s daily reader, features 366 daily reflections for every day of the year written by MA members from a broad cross-section of the fellowship who have found strength and healing through MA and the 12 Steps. Each day includes a quote from MA literature paired with a personal reflection and a final thought to help you stay focused on your recovery. The daily reader can be purchased as a paperback or ebook from ANLP, as well as other retailers (such as Amazon) and can also be read for free on ANLP’s website, and as part of the “Daily Dose” emai.

MA’s service literature, including the Service Manual (Ver. 8.2.) and New Meeting Starter Kit (revised 2025) can be downloaded for free from the MA website, or purchased as spiral-bound print copies on the ANLP website. Digital Download: MA12.org/SM and MA12.org/NMSK Purchase Print: ANLP12.org/SM and ANLP12.org/NMSK

MA also has pamphlets available designed to help guide members in their recovery on topics like Sponsorship, Detox and CHS member stories, MA’s Service Structure, and much more. All Conference-approved pamphlets are available for free on MA’s website, or to purchase in print copies as a “Pamphlet Pack” on the ANLP website for meetings to photocopy to provide to their members.

New pamphlets are always being developed to discuss issues that members ask for information about. Currently, the Literature Committee seeks diverse stories for new member stories pamphlets, such as stories from members who have experience with CIP (cannabinoid induced psychosis) and stories from members in recovery who are LGBTQIA+ and/or BIPOC. In the future, the Committee also would like to prepare pamphlets featuring stories from members who are Veterans and/or First Responders for new pamphlets. The goal is to reach more addicts who identify with these and other diverse stories, and help those addicts know they too belong in MA!!

Literature begins with you, the members of MA. Members can come up with ideas for new literature they think will benefit other members of MA, new or revised pamphlets, and/or submit proposed revisions to existing literature, such as Life with Hope. Members can submit content to be developed by the Literature Committee, or members can submit content themselves. Any member can join the Literature Committee and/or its various subcommittees and together, those committee members decide which literature projects to work on that year. MA’s committees decide on what to work on both by assessing what the fellowship currently needs (like the recent CHS-Stories pamphlet due to the number of requests for information about CHS), as well as those projects that the committee’s members individually feel passionate about each year. So if you feel compelled to revise any literature, we encourage you to join the Literature Committee and invite other members to work on those revisions, or new literature ideas, with you!

Once new literature is drafted (or existing literature’s proposed updates drafted) the committee or member who is proposing the new or revised literature submits it to the MA annual World Service business Conference for approval by the fellowship (through District’s delegates who attend and share the group  conscience of their District’s meetings and their members at the Conference).

Once the Conference body votes in favor of approving new literature or revisions to existing literature, it is then handed off to A New Leaf Publications (ANLP), MA’s publishing department, for final editing and formatting by ANLP’s volunteers and special workers. Once it is ready for publication, ANLP then manages the distribution and sale of MA literature worldwide, including as part of the ANLP online store, and many other retailers. For more information about what ANLP is and does, visit About ANLP.

MA World Services is actively using DeepL translation software to create draft versions of MA Literature in languages other than English. However, the support of MA members who are fluent in other languages is needed to help review and edit the software created drafts. The draft translations, and more information about Literature Translations, are available on the MA Website here. If you are interested in service to the fellowship and are able to help review and edit these drafts, please contact  the Literature Translations Trustee at [email protected], and for more information learn about the Literature Translations Committee

ANLP, MA’s publishing department, is in the process of developing “official” large print version of MA literature. In the meantime, contact the ANLP Chair at [email protected], for information about obtaining large print drafts until the official versions are ready for print. Unfortunately, braille versions are not available at this time. If you are interested in supporting the creation of braille versions of MA literature, please contact ANLP.

Life with Hope, MA’s primary text, is available as a newly re-recorded and remastered audiobook of Life with Hope isavaialbel to purchase from many different audiobook retailers. For more information (and to see the list of retailers where the audiobook is available to purchase) visit ANLP’s store here. An older edition of Life with Hope can also be listened to for free on the MA website here.ANLP hopes to make other MA literature, such as Living Every Day with Hope, available as audiobooks in the future.

If you are seeking any other accommodations to help you or someone else better access MA literature, please contact ANLP and we will see what options are available to meet your needs.

ANLP and MA’s shared goal is to make MA literature as widely available and accessible as possible to carry the message of hope for recovery from marijuana/cannabis addiction to anyone in need, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, or identities such as age, race, gender, sexuaity, socio-economic status, religion, or having any mental or physical illnesses, or any other identity.This is one of the many reasons why the Member Stories Project is currently seeking member stories for both a future book of new member stories, featuring stories not told yet in MA’s literature including from members about the intersection of their identities with their recovery, stories about finding recovery in different life stages, and stories from emmbers who have experienced being institutionalized, in jail or prision, or with rehab or sober living, etc., as well as new pamphlets from members who have experience with CIP (cannabinoid induced psychosis), or who are BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ or Veterans/First Responders. In the future, MA hopes to continue developing pamphlets for additional diverse identities to help members who share those identities feel represented, welcome and a sense of belonging in MA.

If MA literature in its current forms is not accessible to you or someone you know for any reason, please email [email protected] so we can try and find a solution together.

“The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana.” MA’s Third Tradition.

A New Leaf is MA’s free monthly publication celebrating the creativity of MA members featuring content submitted by MA members reflecting the message of hope, recovery, and service, and that unifies us in our shared experiences as recovering marijuana / cannabis addicts. The primary purpose of A New Leaf is to carry the message of recovery and hope to MA members through written and artistic submissions of MA members, and submissions should be in furtherance of that purpose in order to be published. A New Leaf also celebrates members’ sobriety anniversaries/birthdays submitted via the ANLP website. Visit ANLP12.org/new-leaf for more info, and to subscribe, and ANLP12.org/submissions to submit content and http://ANLP12.org/birthdays to submit sobriety anniversaries.

MA’s Literature Committee has various ongoing projects, seeking “less commonly told” member stories, or stories not yet appearing in MA’s literature, including for the development of new member stories pamphlets (like the new CHS-Stories Pamphlet) and longer member stories for either a future new book of member stories, or future new editions of Life with Hope. The word count varies for each project, as does the timing of publication. 

New pamphlets, which feature short stories, will be published sooner than new editions of Life with Hope, or new books of member stories, which can feature much longer stories (up to 4,000 words). 

We encourage stories of varying lengths, as your stories may be used in a variety of publications, including A New Leaf, our monthly creative publication. 

 Let Us Share Your Story of Marijuana Addiction Recovery 

The MA Literature Committee, Stories Subcommittee and A New Leaf seek to shed light on stories of recovery that may not always be told with these suggestions:

• Identity (Gender, Racial, Religious, Sexual, etc.)
• Seeking Sobriety During Different Stages of Life
• Challenges with the Concept of Higher Power
• Cross Addiction, Support From Other 12-Step Fellowships
• Detox Experience, Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS)
• Mental Health, Cannabinoid Induced Psychosis (CIP)
• Long-term Sobriety and the Benefits of Being of Service
• any other story that is not as common, or not yet reflected in MA literature

The suggested length of your story is dependent on the project you would like it to be used for. You can submit multiple versions to each if you’d like:

• for A New Leaf we suggest up to 1,500 words, or less (depending on the nature of the submission — poetry, lyrics, prayers, quotes, stories all may have different ideal lengths) Occasionally we do publish longer pieces. So, if your piece is longer, please still submit it and an Editor will contact you if they suggest revisions to alter the length.
• for the Member Stories book we suggest between 500-4,000 words
• for the Member Stories pamphlets we suggest between 100-300 words

All of these lengths are suggestions only. If you wish to submit shorter or longer content, it may still be considered, so submit it anyways and someone will reach out if it needs to be edited in any way for length.

A New Leaf is MA’s monthly creative publication, and it seeks submissions of the creative content of MA members that helps carry the message for its monthly creative publication, including visual art, poetry, “heard in a meeting” quotes, break up letters, member stories and more, below. 

• Timing: A New Leaf is published monthly, and submissions are typically published 2 months after they are submitted; so submitting to A New Leaf is the way to be published the soonest. 

• Length: A New Leaf features content of varying lengths, but can publish longer stories than for a pamphlet, but usually shorter than for a future book of stories. Length depends on the nature of the submission, but submit regardless and an Editor will reach out if edits are recommended.
• Types of Content: A New Leaf also differs by featuring a wider range of creative content besides stories, including music, visual art, photography and all forms of creative writing. 
• For more information visit: ANLP12.org/Content

The MA Member Stories Book Project is seeking member stories for either a future book of new member stories to be published in the future, and/or future new editions of Life with Hope.

• Timing: The Stories Book project is still in the early stages. Publishing a book (whether a new stories book or new edition of Life with Hope with updated stories) has many steps: from collecting and reviewing stories, to preparing/organizing the book, then seeking Conference approval, and then formatted for printing and publication by ANLP – so it will take longer for stories to be published that are submitted in this project than content submitted to A New Leaf, or the Member Stories Pamphlets project. However, you can submit to all 3 if you want.
• Length: The Members Stories project features longer member stories than can be published in pamphlets or A New Leaf, up to 4,000 words.
• For more information visit: MA12.org/Stories

The MA Member Stories Pamphlets Project also seeks stories for new and revised pamphlets to be published once approved by the Conference. As an example, see the new CHS-Stories pamphlet.This year, the Literature Committee seeks to submit similar member stories pamphlets, and in particular, seeks stories about members’ experiences with: CIP (Cannabinoid-induced psychosis; being LGBTQ+in recovery; or being a BIPOC in recovery.

• Length: Member Stories submitted to be published in pamphlets are the shortest, so that each pamphlet can feature multiple stories in the pamphlet format. Submissions of 100-400 words are suggested.
• Timing: Submissions of the above-suggested story topics will likely be published sooner than submissions to the member stories book, as the committee is working on these pamphlets to submit at the next Conference in May 2026.  To allow the committee time to review and prepare draft pamphlets, please submit by October 15th!
• For more information visit: MA12.org/Stories

“Service provides the backbone of MA; if there is no service, there is no MA… It is our responsibility to do what we can to make sure that MA continues to be there for us, for the marijuana addict who still suffers, and for the addict who is not yet born.” – Life with Hope, Step Twelve, pages 58-59

• Stories submitted to the Member Stories Book Project will not be published in the near future as this project requires many steps before a book can be published, from selecting stories, to editing, to receiving Conference approval, and then being prepared for publication and published by ANLP. So if you want to see your story published sooner, you may want to submit to A New Leaf (in addition to the Stories Project) and/or the Member Stories Pamphlet Project.
• Shorter Stories submitted for Member Stories Pamphlets will be published sooner than the book of member stories, after the Literature Committee selects stories, edits the pamphlets, and seeks Conference-approval in May or June 2026,, then ANLP can prepare it shortly thereafter for publication.
• Stories submitted for publication in A New Leaf are typically published the soonest, in 2-3 months, depending on the number of similar submissions received beforehand. So if you want to see your story published sooner, you may want to submit to A New Leaf and/or the Member Stories Pamphlet project as well as the book of Member Stories.

Members may submit to all 3 story submission projects, including A New Leaf. the MA Stories Book, and MA Stories for Pamphlets project. It is recommended that you simply edit your story and adjust the length for each of the three projects you want your story to be considered for publication.

Regardless of the “prompt,” when writing your story for any MA Publication, whether it be for a future book of member stories, a member stories pamphlet, or A New Leaf, we ask that you consider a ratio to your writing; 1/3 what it was like, 1/3 what happened, and 1/3 what it is like now. This structure sets a framework that begins with your addiction, what led you to finding recovery, and how recovery is changing your life.

Remember, your story can be a powerful way to carry the message of recovery to members in need, especially new members who may identify with your story and so they keep coming back to MA! Within your story, focus on sharing a message of hope and recovery that members can identify with as part of their personal experience as well.

Writer’s block and imposter syndrome are common experiences, especially as we get sober and seek to continue (or begin for the first time) creative work, whether it be writing, painting, dancing, baking etc. ANLP has developed and collected many resources to help spark members’ creativity and overcome writer’s block!! 

• General ANLP/MA Recovery Writing Prompts: MA12.org/prompts
• ANLP Writing Guidance (for focusing your message) ANLP12.org/writing-guidance
• ANLP’s General Writing Tips: ANLP12.org/writing-tips 
• The Artist’s Way Workshop Exercises & Prompts: ANLP12.org/ANLP/WritingPrompts  
• Other Suggestions:
  • You can focus on a topic, such as what brought you to MA, or about your experience with finding a power greater than yourself, or about being a sponsor (or sponsee) or the benefits of being of service
  • Your experience with MA events, like the Convention; or Soberthons
  • Write a break-up letter to Marijuana/Cannabis ANLP12.org/break-up-letter 
  • Write your own version of a 3rd or 7th Step (or any other) prayer: ANLP12.org/prayerwriting
• Or Use ANLP’’s Monthly Specific Prompts ANLP12.org/monthly-prompts
  • Some relate to the Step, Tradition, Concept for Service or Question of 12 Questions of the month. Write about your experience with working a Step, or the importance of a Tradition or Concept, or how the Question helped you.
  • About conditions or illnesses with awareness days or months: If you’ve experienced any illnesses or conditions with an awareness month, submit content to raise awareness and share about the intersection of your recovery and the condition you (or a loved one) have experienced. 
  • About heritages, ethnicities, identities with awareness months, if you identity with any of the identities or heritages celebrated in a month, submit about the intersection of your heritage/identity and recovery
  • About a season or holiday and your recovery e.g. back to school in fall, the holiday season in winter, or a date of personal significance, birthday
  • Or content about  your experience with MA events, e.g. the Convention (September), Conference (May/June) or the 420 or another Soberthon.
• More writing resources (and resources for reigniting all forms of creativity, painting, photography, etc.) ANLP12.org/workshop/resourcesthis includes content from each month’s workshop if you want to review
  • Join us for one of ANLP’s monthly writing workshops where we read from and review exercises from The Artist’s Way to help reignite creativity, overcome creative blocks and inspire ourselves to be creative:  ANLP12.org/workshop. 
  • Review workshop resources:  ANLP12.org/workshop/resources. 
  • Writing Tips: ANLP12.org/writing-guidance & ANLP12.org/writing-tips 
• For A New Leaf, the future book of member stories, and/or future member stories pamphlets, ANLP and the Stories Subcommittee are seeking recovery stories that are not heard as often, such as stories about: 
  • experiences with being in a hospital, institution or rehab facility; 
  • psychosis, CHS or detoxing from marijuana/cannabis; 
  • the intersection of sobriety with identity (e.g. LGBTQ+, BIPOC, etc.)
  • sobriety during different stages of life; 
  • recovery while living with mental health issues or chronic illness/pain; 
  • cross-addiction, support from other 12-Step fellowships; 
  • long-term sobriety; or 
  • the benefits of being of service;
  • any other story that is not common, or not yet reflected in MA literature. intended to spark your creativity if you are having writer’s block. 
• If you are/know a member with stories like these encourage submissions to A New Leaf ANLP12.org/content & Stories Project MA12.org/stories.

Regardless of the “prompt,” when writing your story for any MA Publication, whether it be for a future book of member stories, a member stories pamphlet, or A New Leaf, we ask that you consider a ratio to your writing; 1/3 what it was like, 1/3 what happened, and 1/3 what it is like now. This structure sets a framework that begins with your addiction, what led you to finding recovery, and how recovery is changing your life.

YES! If you are, know someone who creates using other mediums besides writing, such as music, artwork, comics, photography, paintings, drawings, photography, as well as puzzles, games, song lyrics, recorded music, or photos of other art forms, e.g. sculptures and more, please encourage them to submit to A New Leaf – ANLP is seeking other forms  of expression in addition to writing to feature in A New Leaf and can use the new ANL Online blog to feature a wider variety of content! Submit at ANLP12.org/content | written content should be 1,500 words or less.