“The concept of one addict helping another and the privilege of practicing the Twelve Steps are very special gifts to marijuana addicts. The fact is that for thousands of years drug addicts and alcoholics had little or no hope of arresting their disease. For centuries upon centuries the disease was recognized, including the fact that it was sometimes familial. The Greek essayist Plutarch (born 46 A.D.) noted nearly two thousand years ago that, ‘Drunkards beget drunkards.’ ”

– Working The Program, MA pamphlet

To me, it’s incredible that for nearly as long as there has been the species Homo sapiens, there has been addiction. This fact does not usually make it into the history books. I cannot fully imagine what that must have been like for the loved ones and acquaintances of the addict. It sounds like that when one was identified as an addict, that person was likely considered a hopeless case. It feels like the greatest privilege is to be born in a time in which there is something called “recovery.”

For myself, as recently as five years ago, I thought of myself as a hopeless case. I didn’t know about a 12-Step program for marijuana. I was embarrassed. I didn’t even think a person could be a marijuana addict. Early on in my recovery, I still felt embarrassed admitting in front of other addicts that my problem substance was marijuana. In fighting back against notions about marijuana being this evil substance, perhaps the pendulum swung too far in the opposite direction. Suddenly, everyone started treating marijuana as something harmless. I remember admitting my problem to old friends later on and them remarking, “Wow, I didn’t even think you could get addicted to pot!” My addiction nearly drove me to extinction. I made regular promises to quit tomorrow, but I never could. Now, by practicing these principles, unavailable to many for thousands of years, a word like “fortunate” does not come close to how I feel.

Final thought: Today, I’m thoroughly unafraid to admit that I am powerless over marijuana. With this admission I feel powerful! I feel liberated!