Marijuana Anonymous World Services
Marijuana Anonymous World Services serves the society of MA and serve the districts, meetings/groups, and members. It serves those addicts who need to know how to start a group, meet in a hospital or institution, disseminate information to the public, and cooperate with professionals.
MA World Services is primarily comprised of volunteer members and carries out the necessary business and legal affairs of Marijuana Anonymous as a whole. MA also employs paid professionals, known as Special Workers, who provide their specialty skills to support Trustees and the rest of the Service Structure.
The Marijuana Anonymous World Service Conference is the forum where we conduct the official business meeting(s) of the Members that allow Marijuana Anonymous to exist and continue as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, as required per our Bylaws. During the Conference, members from around the world gather to discuss matters which affect Marijuana Anonymous as a whole and come to group conscience decisions as we consider how best to move forward as a community, including the election of Trustees. 
The Service Structure of Marijuana Anonymous is described as an inverted pyramid which includes three levels. Members, Meetings, and Groups make up the broad base at the top of the pyramid. The middle level consists of Districts and Regions. The tip, or the smallest portion of the pyramid at the bottom, represents MA World Services, which includes Delegates, Committees, A New Leaf Publications, Special Workers, and the Board of Directors/Trustees.
The pyramid is inverted because the individual members, meetings, and groups are the largest and most vital part of the community of MA. Without recovering addicts, there would be no need for meetings; without meetings there would be no need for districts; without districts, no need for World Services. This point cannot be stressed enough. The MA Service Structure exists entirely to serve the meetings, groups, members, and those who have not yet found MA.
MA World Services Trustees
Marijuana Anonymous World Services is a nonprofit corporation formed to carry out the necessary business and legal affairs of Marijuana Anonymous. Trustees are the Trusted Servants and Officers of MA World Services. Our Bylaws mandate that we have Trustees who also serve as Corporate Directors. Two years of Sobriety is required. 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). One year of Delegate experience is recommended.
“Effective leadership qualities are essential for Trustees, who are entrusted with the responsibility of making final decisions regarding general World Service business and finances.” – Eighth Concept for Service
As the Directors and Officers of MA World Services, each Trustee is assigned to a particular role (President, Secretary, Treasurer, Literature, Public Information, Policies & Procedures, etc.) and traditionally serves as Chairperson for the associated World Service Committee. All MA members are invited and encouraged to participate in any number of Committees.
When there are more jobs than Trustees, one or more Trustees will be responsible for more than one job. The Trustee Body will apportion jobs to Trustees as it sees fit. Each Trustee holds a particular position (President, Secretary, Treasurer, H&I, PI, Literature, etc.) and acts as Chair for their specific World Service Committee to ensure the committee meets all mandated deadlines as directed by the MA World Service Conference and the Service Manual.
Read the Trustee Job Descriptions for more information
MA World Service Committees
World-Service level committees and the Board of Trustees serve the fellowship and utilize group conscience to support matters that affect the Society of Marijuana Anonymous. The committees conduct service work throughout the year and sometimes make recommendations to the Conference Body to be voted on by District Delegates and Trustees in a general assembly. MA World Services Committees serve as an example for how to conduct subcommittees at the District-level. For more information see Committee Handbooks: MA12.org/Library
Each Delegate and Trustee is expected to serve on at least one committee, and all MA members are invited and welcome to participate in any number of committees at the World Service and District Service levels.
“All members of a Service Committee have the “Right of Participation,” and bear substantial responsibility for the Service Committee’s decisions.” – Fourth Concept for Service
Learn more and participate in the various World-Service Level Committees
For information about MA World Services events and committees subscribe to the free monthly e-newsletter Carry the Message
A New Leaf Publications
A New Leaf Publications is the publishing department of MA and is responsible for MA literature after its creation.
As a DBA or “doing business as” of MA World Services, ANLP keeps the spiritual message of recovery separate from financial and property concerns. The department oversees and administers the publication, distribution, and business of MA literature for the purpose of carrying the message of recovery and service to the community of MA and to outside entities. A New Leaf Publications also curates and distributes MA’s monthly literary publication.
A New Leaf
A New Leaf is the monthly literary publication for Marijuana Anonymous (similar to the AA Grapevine magazine). A New Leaf celebrates MA members’ creativity and seeks to share the message of hope in recovery through the many creative submissions by our community—unifying us in our shared experiences as marijuana / cannabis addicts. A New Leaf contains MA member-submitted stories and other creative expressions sharing experience, strength, and hope in recovery. It also publishes sobriety birthdays when MA members submit them.
Members who would like to subscribe to A New Leaf please use this link: MA12.org/New-Leaf
For more information about A New Leaf Publications: [email protected] | ANLP12.org