Becoming a Trustee
In order to form the Marijuana Anonymous World Services Board of Directors, Trustees are elected utilizing the Third Legacy Procedure. Trustees, also referred to as Directors, are elected to one (1) two year term, and are eligible for election to serve two (2) additional consecutive one year terms. No Trustee may serve more than four (4) years consecutively. Alternate Trustees, also referred to as Alternate Directors, are elected to a one-year term, as described below.
To be elected Trustee, a member must be present at the time when the eligibility list is established. All Conference attendees with the requisite sobriety qualifications shall be eligible to be elected as Trustees or Alternates. Members must have a minimum of two (2) years of continuous sobriety to qualify to serve as a Trustee or an Alternate. Sobriety for this trusted servant position is defined as abstinence from marijuana, alcohol, and all other mind-altering substances (unless those other substances are taken as prescribed by a healthcare provider). Once placed on the eligibility list, members have a right to withdraw their names from consideration. We strongly encourage anyone who qualifies to have an open mind, exercise willingness, participate in the process, and accept the will of higher power.
Currently there are 13 Trustees, however, when a Trustee is beginning the second year of a two-year term they are not up for re-election, this affects the number of Trustees the Conference Body needs to elect. During the Third Legacy Procedure, the Members of the Conference Body vote to determine who will become Trustee based on the number of open positions. Then the incoming and outgoing Trustees have a Board Meeting to determine who will fill each of the current Trustee positions.
The Third Legacy Procedure can be a complex process. By clicking the + symbols below, you can see the procedure and voting process in full written form. We hope that you find the visual helpful and we have developed an FAQ listed below. If you have further questions, they can be asked during the Conference training session or by emailing [email protected].
The Third Legacy Election Procedure
1. The names of all persons who meet the Trustee requirements are placed on an eligibility list, subject to view by all members for the duration of the Conference. Names listed must be at least one (1) character different to differentiate between the eligible candidates.
2. Candidates may strike their name from the list at any time.
3. Before the first round of voting begins, each Candidate may provide a brief summary of their service history such as; serving as a sponsor; service at the levels of meeting, district, and World Services including service sponsorship; and any relevant career qualifications such as having nonprofit management experience, being an attorney or CPA, and/or having bookkeeping or accounting experience. (Note: Not having a lengthy service resume does not preclude an eligible candidate for selection to the Board). Depending on the Conference schedule, and at the discretion of the Chairperson, this summary may be provided in writing and shared in a document that will be available to the Conference Body.
4. Each candidate will introduce themselves to the Conference Body for the purpose of associating names with faces.
5. To vote, each voting Member selects names, exactly as listed, of their chosen candidates, from the current eligibility list, on a secret ballot.
6. For each round of voting, voting Members must select the exact number of names as there are positions to be filled (i.e., if there are three Trustee positions available, Members must select the names of three candidates on their ballot). As positions are filled, the number of names required on each ballot will change.
7. Errors made by voting Members regarding item numbers 5 or 6 above shall require that the vote be discarded, and a new vote taken.
Voting Process
1. The first vote: Any candidate receiving two-thirds or more of the votes is elected. Note that this vote may result in no one being elected.
2. The second vote (if required): Any candidate receiving two-thirds or more of the votes is elected. If all available positions are not filled, ‘automatic withdrawals’ begin. Generally, the names of candidates receiving one-fifth or fewer of the votes are removed from the eligibility list. The number of candidates remaining on the list must be one (1) more than the number of positions still available. To satisfy this requirement, there may be cases where candidates who did not receive one-fifth of the votes remain on the list.
3. The third vote (if required): Any candidate receiving two-thirds or more of the votes is elected. If all available positions are not filled, the names of candidates receiving one-third or fewer of the votes are removed from the eligibility list.The number of candidates remaining must be one (1) more than the number of positions still available. To satisfy this requirement, there may be cases where candidates who did not receive one-third of the votes remain on the list.
4. A fourth vote (if required): Any candidate receiving two-thirds or more of the votes is elected. If, at this point, positions remain unfilled, the names of candidates receiving one-third or fewer of the votes are removed from the eligibility list.The number of candidates remaining must be one (1) more than the number of positions still available. To satisfy this requirement, there may be cases where candidates who did not receive one-third of votes remain on the list.At this point, the Chair entertains a motion to:
a.) Stop balloting and draw remaining names from the hat; or
b.) Conduct a fifth and final vote.
* If 4a.) above carries, the remaining names go into a hat and positions are filled in the order that the names are drawn.
**If 4b.) carries, a FINAL VOTE is taken. Any person receiving two-thirds or more of the votes is elected. If no election is made, remaining names go into the hat and positions are filled in the order that the names are drawn.
Designation of “official” Alternate Trustees and “Alternate Waitlist”
The number of Alternate Directors to be designated as “official” Alternate Directors, for logistics purposes, such as receiving email accounts and attending the monthly Board of Trustees meetings, shall be determined by that year’s Conference Body. All attendees added to the eligibility list (who are not elected) are considered “Alternates-in-Waiting.” The Alternate Waitlist shall be listed in the reverse order that the remaining candidates were removed (e.g., the last candidate removed before all available Positions on the Board of Trustees were filled, would be the “First Alternate-in-Waiting”, and so on, so that the final name on the “Alternate Waitlist” is the first Candidate removed by the Third Legacy Procedure.)
“Alternates-in-Waiting” will only be called upon as official Alternate Directors in the event one or more of the official Alternates are called to serve as Trustee(s) due to a vacancy on the Board of Trustees.
Third Legacy FAQ
Who is Eligible?
As of May 22, 2026 all Third Legacy participants must have a minimum of two years of sobriety defined as abstinence from marijuana, alcohol, and all other mind-altering substances (unless those substances are taken as prescribed by a healthcare provider).
How do we know who the candidates are?
Before voting, each eligible (and willing) candidate will introduce themselves (to put faces to names) and may provide a brief service history (time permitting).
Which Trustee Positions are Open?
The voting Members only select who will be on the Board, no one is elected to any particular role. Once all vacant Trustee positions are filled, the incoming and outgoing Board members meet privately to determine which roles are needed to best serve the fellowship at this time and who will fill each role based on skills and interests. All Trustee positions will be considered open, however, some Trustees may want to continue in the same role, others may be willing to change, the Board will decide together.
More info about each role is available at MA12.org/Trustees
Email any questions to current Trustees at MA12.org/Contact
How Many Trustees Are Being Elected?
This changes yearly depending on how many Trustees are beginning their second year of the 2-year term.
What About Alternate Trustees?
We will elect 3 official Alternate Trustees who will have MA emails & be invited to Board Meetings. All other eligible Members of the 3rd Legacy are considered “Alternates in Waiting.”
How long is a Trustee’s Term?
Trustees are elected to serve one 2-year term with an option to be re-elected for up to two additional 1-year terms, a maximum of four years consecutively. A one year Conference cycle is required for any trustee that has “termed out” in order to be eligible for another cycle as previously mentioned.
Do I remain anonymous if I become a Trustee?
A Trustee’s name may be placed on public records in the State of California, and therefore, Trustees and Alternates must be prepared to accept that their name may be revealed publicly.
Can I campaign for myself or another person?
The purpose of the special procedure is to eliminate, as much as possible, the role of personality, ego, and competition in the process of selection of Delegates and Trustees.
In the traditional electoral process, a candidate declares or is nominated for office and then actively campaigns for the position. The candidate invests an often considerable personal interest in obtaining the position. The successful candidate experiences ego gratification; the unsuccessful candidate experiences personal rejection.
For the recovering addicts in MA, the traditional electoral process is risky, and has the potential to damage the unity that is an important part of our recovery program. Our Third Legacy procedure removes, as much as possible, the elements of declaration and competition for our trusted servant office.
Feel free to direct any other questions to the Policies & Procedures Trustee: [email protected]
