The Marijuana Anonymous Service Manual is the guidebook that helps MA function and serve our primary purpose. As stated in the Service Manual: “The purpose of this manual is to explain the organization and function of the service structure of MA. The procedures, guidelines and service structures have been created to best unify MA and pursue the goal of helping the marijuana addict. We hope that this manual will help all who are interested in MA understand the need for service and the way in which it is rendered. MA remains flexible and its organization may change. Change occurs through the group conscience of the members expressed by their delegates to districts and to MA World Services.” See Service Manual Version 8.1, “What is Marijuana Anonymous?”

Essentially, at all levels of service, change occurs through the group conscience of the members, whether that be expressed directly by members during business meetings held for their group/meeting, or expressed by a meeting’s GSR to the District/Region, or expressed by a District Delegate to MA World Services. At all levels, it is the group conscience of members that is being expressed, and used to make changes in MA..

At the World Services’ level, the group conscience is expressed by district delegates who attend the annual business Conference to vote on behalf of their District on issues affecting MA as a whole. 

At the district/region level, the group conscience is expressed by Group Service Representatives (or GSRs) who attend the monthly DSC/RSC and vote on behalf of the meeting they represent on issues affecting the District/Region. 

And at the meeting level, change also occurs through the group conscience as is expressed through holding business meetings where members of that meeting can discuss and vote on issues affecting the meeting. The types of issues that a meeting or group might hold a business meeting to obtain a group conscience on include a wide range of things, such as changing the meeting format or readings, making 7th Tradition donations to the District/Region or World Services, addressing concerns about member safety, and selecting new members to fill open meeting service positions.

A business meeting is a meeting attended by members of the group/meeting held outside of the regular meeting time (often held immediately before or after the regular meeting) where members of the meeting can propose changes to the way a meeting is operating (like changing the wording in the meeting’s script, changing the readings used, addressing a member who is making members of the meeting feel unsafe, changing the meeting’s location, making 7th tradition donations to the district/region or World Services, or electing new members into open service positions for the meeting etc.) During the business meeting, members typically discuss and then vote on the issue in order to obtain what is called the “group conscience” of the meeting on the issue or motion at hand. Essentially, a business meeting is the democratic mechanism by which changes are made within MA while ensuring all viewpoints are heard.

The term group conscience comes from our Second Tradition, which states:

For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority, a loving God whose expression may come through in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

An informed group conscience is possible when a group of members discuss all known information about a subject while upholding the MA Traditions and Principles. For a group conscience to be fully informed, group members should review all the pertinent information with a willing and open mind to listen to minority opinions, or why any members disagree with the motion. Each member has an opportunity to share their individual viewpoints on the matter. The trusted servant(s) will then hold a vote to determine the majority opinion (also known as the group conscience) on the subject. 

A meeting’s voice or group conscience is heard when a well-informed meeting or group arrives at a decision after this type of a discussion was had in which all viewpoints have been heard, everyone who wanted to felt free to share their opinions, and there was no rush to vote on the issue before the meeting was ready to do so. 
However, there is no one right way to obtain a group conscience, other than to be guided by MA’s traditions and principles. MA meetings/groups are autonomous, and so are free to develop their own ways of obtaining a group conscience. MA World Services does not govern, and merely exists as a resource. In their autonomy, MA’s meetings/groups have developed a wide variety of unique ways of holding business meetings, voting, discussing proposed motions, and reaching a group conscience.

To answer this question we look for guidance from Tradition 4. 

“A group should consult with other groups, the district service committee, or World Services if there is any question that their actions may affect another group or MA as a whole.” – Fourth Tradition (Life with Hope 3rd ed., pg 71-72)

If your group/meeting would like suggestions for how to gather a group conscience you may choose to seek support from members with long-time sobriety, a district, or MA World Services. 

Meetings are free to decide whether or not there are any requirements for the group/meeting, including how to obtain a group conscience. “Every group has the right of self-government undertaken without outside control. Every group can manage itself exactly as it pleases . .  [and] may make any decisions or adopt any format it likes.” -Tradition Four, Life with Hope 3rd ed., pg 71-72.

Some groups/meetings may have existing requirements about how many members must be present at a business meeting to vote on a motion in order to obtain a group conscience (sometimes called a “quorum”) but other groups/meetings may not have any such requirements at all. It is entirely up to your meeting whether or not a minimum number of members must be present at a business meeting to vote on anything, whether it be electing new service positions, or a motion to change the meeting format, or how to address any prospective or existing concerns about member safety. 

There are no requirements from MA World Services regarding how many members must participate in a group conscience, so long as the meeting or group adheres to the 12 Traditions and 12 Concepts for Service, and does not take actions that affect MA as a whole, they are free in their autonomy to make a wide-range of decisions affecting that group or meeting. 

Some examples of actions taken by meetings within their broad autonomy provided by the Fourth Tradition include:

• changing which readings the meeting uses 
• making 7th Tradition donations of funds exceeding the meeting’s prudent reserve to the District/Region or MA World Services 
• changing the time or location of the meeting
• voting on how to handle a member who is making other members feel unsafe (such as asking them not to attend for a set period of time)
• voting on each year’s MA World Service business Conference agenda items so that the meeting’s GSR can report to the District’s Delegate(s) what the meeting’s group conscience is on each Agenda item 
• adding, changing, or removing language from the meeting script or format (such as language about cross-talk and whether or not it is permitted, language about respecting members’ pronouns, or statements to protect member safety etc.)

See the R&A subcommittee’s handout (MA12.org/safety) for some examples of language other meetings have added to their script or format to make their meetings more welcoming, accessible and safe for all members.

Any member of the group/meeting can request to hold a business meeting. The group/meeting may want to determine a designated member to facilitate certain business meetings. That could be the Group Service Representative, Chairperson, Secretary, or any member of the group/meeting. “Our leaders are but trusted servants, they do not govern.” Your group/meeting may also want to select someone to take notes of the business meeting, so the chairperson can focus on facilitating the meeting.

Schedule the business meeting in advance, giving notice at least 2 weeks prior. The business meeting should take place when the majority of the group/meeting’s members can attend to discuss the issue, and vote if a group conscience is reached during the meeting. The business meeting may be held before, after, or at a separate time from the regular meeting. 

When providing notice of the business meeting, inform the members of the business meeting’s subject and provide all relevant materials (such as the annual business Conference’s Agenda packet with the actual motions). This will allow members sufficient time to review any applicable material relating to the subject to be addressed prior to attending the business meeting. The length of the business meeting may be reduced by allowing everyone an opportunity to review and consider the proposed changes beforehand. 

Some meetings/groups have regular business meetings scheduled, for example monthly after the regular meeting, to address any issues that may arise, or conduct a general check-in on how the meeting is doing (sometimes referred to as conducting a “service inventory” of the meeting/group and its service structure).
However they decide to proceed within their autonomy provided by the Fourth Tradition, meetings and groups should ensure that their group conscience business meetings do not happen on a whim so that all members who wish to have an opportunity to participate in the discussion and voting process.

Ideally the meeting begins with someone reading the motion language or proposed changes to the meeting format/script out loud, if applicable. For example, when voting on the agenda items prior to the annual World Service Conference so that the meeting’s GSR can express to the District Delegate(s) what the group conscience of that group or meeting is on each agenda item, the Agenda packet should be screen shared if virtual, or copied and handed out if in person, and each item read out loud. 

When voting in new members to service positions, the meeting might begin with someone reading the description of each available service role (from the meeting’s own materials, or if none exist, from the Service Manual, which sets forth some examples of common meeting service positions and the duties and responsibilities of each service position. See Service Manual Chapter 4: Meeting Officers. 

For other issues, no such materials may be needed and the group may just wish to jump into discussing the issue at hand by having the relevant person (potentially the chairperson) explain the situation (such as the reasons for needing to change the meeting’s location like it closing or increasing the rent too high, or explaining the facts of a situation involving members of the meeting feeling unsafe or unwelcome that has escalated to the point of the meeting needing to discuss how it will handle the issue).

The member facilitating the business meeting will be responsible for calling on any members who wish to share their thoughts on the motion. During discussion, it is important that all voices are heard, and that respect is maintained, regardless of the member’s outlook, and that no one talks out of turn. To hep facilitate this, usually sharing is done by raising hands (virtually or in person) and calling on people to speak in the order of hands raised. If members begin interrupting and speaking when it is not their turn, it is the role of the member chairing the business meeting to restore order by reminding everyone to only speak when it is their turn to share and they have been called on in the order of hands raised. Limiting each person’s time to share (such as 3 minutes) can help ensure everyone who wants to has an opportunity to speak. 

Should discussion become overly passionate, it is important to remember why the group/meeting is having the discussion that has some members so passionate in the first place – to determine how best to fulfill MA’s primary purpose and carry the message to the addict who is still suffering! This is also where it’s important to try and hear any minority views, not just the loudest voices, and to have the willingness and open mind to listen to all viewpoints.

During the annual MA World Services business Conference, if tensions are rising any member can raise both hands to stop the meeting and say the “Serenity Prayer.” When anyone sees hands raised, they raise theirs, until everyone in the room has raised their hands. At this point, discussion pauses and whomever initiated raising hands leads the group in the “Serenity Prayer,” usually the “We” version. Often, this helps calm the tension and pause to remember why we are all so passionate about the discussion.

“Pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action.” – Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (4th Ed.) pg 87 

We can all benefit from this quote – particularly during potentially heated discussions. If members are feeling agitated or doubtful as a group during these discussions, take a pause to seek guidance for the next indicated right thought or action. 

Depending on the issue at hand, there is often no need to rush in reaching a group conscience. If a group conscience cannot be reached in one business meeting, it can be tabled, to be continued during another business meeting when everyone is feeling rested and refreshed physically and spiritually to continue the discussion in a productive manner.

If everyone in a meeting seems to be in agreement, or if the group/meeting is smaller, meeting discussion may conclude quickly, needing only one business meeting. Moving to a vote could be an easy transition. 

If discussion has become over-extended, occurring over multiple business meetings, the group conscience seems divided, there may be too many opposing opinions, or discussion is going in circles, it may be the time to vote on whether or not to end discussion. If the vote to end discussion does not pass, then discussion resumes as it was before until the group conscience decides to vote. 

It is possible that those with a minority opinion will never sway their thoughts, or come to an understanding with the rest of the group’s opinions. We always hope that everyone can agree within the group conscience but that may not be possible. Please see the following question about what percentage of a meeting’s group conscience votes that must be in favor of the proposed change to pass the motion.

When the meeting has decided it is time to vote on some type of proposed change, such as to the meeting’s format or readings, or how to handle a safety concern involving the meeting’s members, voting can also occur in a variety of ways: 

• For discrete voting, you may consider a secret paper ballot for in person meetings. Or, for discrete voting in virtual meetings, you can consider sending a direct message in the chat to the trusted servant    
• Or perhaps vote by raising hands (either using virtual or “physical hands”) or, audibly stating yes or no. 
• Meetings are autonomous and so it’s entirely up to the meeting how voting will occur, and what percentage of the meeting/group must be in favor of a proposed change/motion in order for it to pass/take effect.

“Every group has the right of self-government undertaken without outside control. Every group can manage itself exactly as it pleases . .  [and] may make any decisions or adopt any format it likes.” -Tradition Four, Life with Hope 3rd edt. pg 71-72

Autonomous groups/meetings vote in order to obtain a “valid” group conscience. MA World Services has no rules or requirements about how to obtain a group conscience, MA World Services only exists as a resource, and does not govern. Therefore, it is entirely up to a group/meeting whether a certain number of members must be present at a business meeting in order to vote and obtain a group conscience on any issue.

“Every group has the right of self-government undertaken without outside control. Every group can manage itself exactly as it pleases . .  [and] may make any decisions or adopt any format it likes.” -Tradition Four, Life with Hope 3rd edt. pg 71-72

MA World Services has no rules or requirements about how to obtain a group conscience, and does not govern. This includes determining the percentage of votes needed to pass a motion. If a meeting has an established way of obtaining its group conscience, including eligibility requirements, the group/meeting may continue to use any process that functions for the group conscience.

Autonomous meetings are free to decide whether or not there are any such requirements for the group/meeting, including how to obtain a group conscience.  Some groups/meetings choose to pass a vote with 2/3 of the members in agreement, others use 3/4 and others use a simple majority.

Groups/Meetings are free to determine what percentage of votes are required for this motion and all others, including Conference motions, and other group/meeting business. We normally round up to the next whole number with any decimal. 

• Group conscience of simple majority or 51%: (# of members voting) x 0.51 = # of votes to pass the motion. 
  • 10 members x 0.51 = 5.1 members
    • If only 5 members vote Yes, then the motion fails.
    • 6 members would have to vote yes to pass the motion.
• Group conscience of ⅔ or 66%: (# of members voting) x 0.66 = # of votes to pass the motion. 
  • 10 members x 0.66 = 6.6 members
    • If only 6 members vote Yes, then the motion fails.
    • 7 members would have to vote yes to pass the motion.
• Group conscience of ¾ of 75%: (# of members voting) x 0.75 = # of votes to pass the motion.
  • 10 members x 0.75 = 7.5 members
    • If only 7 members vote yes, then the motion fails.
    • 8 members would have to vote yes to pass the motion.

The Traditions caution against hasty decision making – a group conscience is obtained with patience. So more than one business meeting may be needed in order to hear all viewpoints and reach an informed decision, especially business meetings to determine the meeting/group’s group conscience on the agenda items for each year’s annual business Conference. This is one reason why the Conference Agenda packets are distributed so far in advance of the Conference – to allow groups/meetings and districts adequate time to discuss and reach a group conscience on the agenda items. Some groups/meetings only address one or two agenda items per week, and hold weekly business meetings until the entire packet has been reviewed, while others review all the proposed agenda items over one business meeting.

If there is no sense that a collective view has been reached by the group, or that everyone with an opinion (especially minority opinions) has been able to speak about their viewpoint, the issue can be dealt with over the course of multiple business meetings to allow all voices to be heard, and all the relevant information to be reviewed before the meeting votes. In obtaining a group conscience, members should remain wary of dominant opinions and be reminded by MA traditions to place principles before personalities.

When having conversations about controversial, sensitive and/or highly contested issues, an informed group conscience is often best reached by working slowly, rather than rushing to reach a hasty decision, and when the meeting avoids reaching a final decision until all opinions have been heard and a clear sense of the meeting’s collective opinion emerges. The result rests on more than a “yes” or “no” count—precisely because it is the spiritual expression of the group conscience. 

Put another way, a group conscience is more than just a yes or no vote. It involves willingness, an open-mind, and patience to ensure that all viewpoints in the room are heard – especially minority views. We are always cautioned by MA traditions to place principles before personalities to ensure that the issues at hand remain the focus, and that the minority viewpoint can be heard and considered when seeking a group conscience – not just the loudest voice in the room.

We ask that you remember Tradition Five, “each group has but one primary purpose, to carry its message to the marijuana addict who still suffers.” The newcomer is often the most important person in the room.

• Does a person need to have a minimum amount of time sober in order to be eligible to vote in a business meeting?

According to Tradition Four, groups/meetings are autonomous and free to determine how to obtain a group conscience. It further states in the long form in Life With Hope that “Every group has the right of self-government undertaken without outside control. Every group can manage itself exactly as it pleases . .  [and] may make any decisions or adopt any format it likes.” (Tradition Four, Life with Hope, 3rd ed. pg 71-72). And Tradition Three states that “The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana.”

MA World Services has no rules or requirements about how to obtain a group conscience, and does not govern. This includes determining member sobriety requirements for voter eligibility, including length of time sober, and/or time attending that MA meeting or group. If a meeting has an established way of obtaining its group conscience, including eligibility requirements, the group/meeting may continue to use any process that functions for the group conscience. 

However, we do suggest that you also remember Tradition Five, “each group has but one primary purpose, to carry its message to the marijuana addict who still suffers.” The newcomer is often the most important person in the room. 

• Can a person vote at a business meeting if it is their first time attending a meeting?

Tradition Three states that “The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana.” The section of the Service Manual addressing voting to obtain a group conscience on certain issues does not have any further information regarding voter requirements. Based upon the Third Tradition, any person with a desire to quit marijuana is a member of MA. 

According to MA’s Fourth Tradition, meetings are autonomous. If a meeting has an established way of obtaining its group conscience, including eligibility requirements, the group/meeting may continue to use any process that functions for the group conscience. “Every group has the right of self-government undertaken without outside control. Every group can manage itself exactly as it pleases . .  [and] may make any decisions or adopt any format it likes.” (Tradition Four, Life with Hope 3rd edt. pg 71-72)

Whether they’re a newcomer who is attending that meeting for the first time, or they are not a regular attendee of that meeting and attending as a visitor, the group should consider that this individual is an equal member of the fellowship and it is important to hear from all of our member’s voices. We ask that you remember Tradition Five, “each group has but one primary purpose, to carry its message to the marijuana addict who still suffers.” The newcomer is often the most important person in the room. However they decide to proceed within their autonomy provided by the Fourth Tradition, meetings and groups should ensure that their group conscience business meetings do not happen on a whim so that all members who wish to have an opportunity to participate in the discussion and voting process.