Real Recovery.
Dive into heartfelt personal stories from members of Marijuana Anonymous around the world. These first-person narratives share the raw truth of addiction, the turning points of change, and the daily triumphs in living a cannabis-free life. Whether you’re in recovery or seeking inspiration, these stories offer powerful connection and hope. Discover relatable experiences and courageous transformations.
Unique Voices
The content contained in A New Leaf are the sole opinions of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of Marijuana Anonymous as a whole. MA is not affiliated with—and does not endorse or accept contributions from—any outside enterprise.
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Making It To Dry Land
Written By, Lee N. A way to stay afloat. That’s what marijuana was for me. My therapist (cringing at myself for being a living, breathing queer, Jewish stereotype by starting a sentence this way but…if the shoe fits) recently shared with me a parable in which someone had compared their addiction to a life raft.…
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My Stepping Stones: A Personal Journey Through the Twelve Steps of Marijuana Anonymous
Written By Brian B. When I first walked into the rooms of Marijuana Anonymous, I was searching for a new way of life. Recovery felt overwhelming but also full of possibility. At my very first meeting, called Grown as Men, newcomers were given a simple gift: a virtual white stone. That small image of a…
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From Bad to Worse
Written By Christine L. Cannabis—at first harmless. A little flower lifted my mood, made me feel alive. My ex-husband and I partied, laughed, lived freely in the US. Later, alone, I used it spiritually, searching for God, the Goddess within me. I thought I’d found my true nature. I felt guided by spirit. Wrong. My…
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Goodbye Weed
Written By Gwynedd T. Hello there old friend, It’s been about a month since we last spoke. I’ve been thinking about you lately. I remember the first time we met. You scalded my throat and burned me from within, coating my mind and heart with a false sense of security. You made me feel like…
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Personal Story
Written By Jess A. I started smoking pot my freshman year of high school. I was an off and on smoker for 40 years. When I was on, I was on. As time progressed and weed got stronger, quitting became more challenging and my ability to live a normal life got harder and harder. I…
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Misunderstood Strengths
Written By, Dan F. I used to look back on my childhood with confusion. I knew I was different—how I learned, how I connected—but I didn’t have the language for it. I just knew I didn’t fit. It wasn’t until I entered recovery that those memories began to shift. Not because they changed, but because…
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In service of our primary purpose, to carry the message of recovery to the addict who still suffers, A New Leaf features personal recovery stories each month.
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