“The existence of MA depends on the preservation of Tradition Five.”

– Life with Hope, second edition, page 81

Our primary purpose is to carry our message to the marijuana addict who still suffers. Our message is one of hope, that anyone can recover from marijuana addiction with the support of other addicts in Marijuana Anonymous. Before I came into recovery, I had no idea how meetings were going to help me. I only knew that I was sick and tired of marijuana and I could not quit on my own, no matter how hard I tried.

It was at my second meeting that I realized everyone in the room was relying on everyone else in the room to help them stay clean, one day at a time. I left that second meeting with the thought in my head that I only had to quit smoking pot one day at a time.

I made it through the next day without smoking pot, which was a miracle and then I made it another day. During that first week I sometimes went one hour at a time. I heard stories of people who relapsed because they had stopped going to meetings, which encouraged me to continue going to meetings no matter what. I lost the obsession and compulsion right away, for which I’m grateful. I welcome newcomers like I was welcomed. When I share my story of how I came into MA with a newcomer, I remember what it was like, and how much I’ve learned since that first day.

Final thought: Today, I am willing to be of service to the addict who is still suffering.