This aspect of the policy (prohibiting use of the MA name and logo for social events) is not new. The Service Manual, Ver. 8.0, Chapter 14 – Events on p. 34 explains that “In keeping with the Fourth Tradition, MA World Services recognizes that it has no right to control the activities of Districts/Regions and individual meetings. Therefore, DSCs/RSCs and meetings/groups are free to have social events of their own choosing, however, the MA name may not be used on any flyers or other promotional materials for social or fellowship-only events. Additionally, as stated in Tradition 5 of Life with Hope, it is recommended that “a meeting or recovery-oriented workshop is held at social events. The only Marijuana Anonymous approved activities are meetings, District/Region Service Committee meetings, the MA World Service Conference and MA Convention.”
However, now with the new IP policy and proposed additions to this section of the SM there is a way for groups, meetings, regions and districts to get permission to use the MA name and logo on flyers for certain types of events, provided they have a “meeting or recovery-oriented workshop” and not purely social in nature. If groups have a licensing agreement with MA World Services that includes flyers for recovery-oriented events, they’re free to use the logo in that way (provided the event somehow aids in carrying the message of recovery).
Groups are also still free under the Fourth Tradition to hold social events; however, they just cannot use the MA name or logo on flyers for those events since these can trivialize the MA program and are not recovery based. Recognizing that groups, meetings, districts and regions do hold recovery-oriented workshops – such as a soberthons or workshops – World Services wanted to update the policy to allow the MA name and logo to be used under those circumstances that are related to MA’s program of recovery, and aid in “carrying the message” as is our primary purpose. (Tradition Five).