At the 2021 MA World Services annual business Conference, District 12 presented an Agenda Item that there be a fellowship-wide vote on whether or not to change the language within the Twelve Steps to replace the word “God” with the words “Higher Power.” A formal amendment was passed at that time to include the Twelve Traditions as well. Since the 2021 Conference, MA World Services has been creating voting functions and updating the directory of groups/meetings. Our goal is to implement this fellowship-wide vote in a manner which represents the group conscience of all MA groups/meetings. 

Learn more about why District 12 chose to bring forth the motion for a fellowship-wide vote in the motion contextual statement: marijuana-anonymous.org/Vote

The Marijuana Anonymous Service Manual is the guidebook that helps MA function and serve our primary purpose. The Service Manual explains the, “Procedure for Approval of Changes in the Language of the Steps, Traditions, and/or General Warranties.” This can be found in Service Manual version 7.1 on page 62:

“Should a conference motion pass which seeks to change the text of the Steps, Traditions, and/or General Warranties, the written consent of three-quarters of all groups, as required by the Conference Charter, shall be obtained as follows: The proposed change shall be sent to all meetings registered with World Services and, after no less than 6 months, those ballots returned shall be counted. A yes vote of three-quarters of the returned ballots shall be sufficient to meet the requirement of the Conference Charter to implement the proposed change(s).”

In other words, significant changes to the core of the MA program and literature, such as proposed changes to the text of the Steps and Traditions, it was decided that a fellowship-wide group conscience must be taken.

At the 2021 MA World Services annual business Conference, District 12 presented an Agenda Item that there be a fellowship-wide vote on whether or not to change the language within the Twelve Steps to replace the word “God” with the words “Higher Power.” A formal amendment was passed at that time to include the Twelve Traditions as well. Since the 2021 Conference, MA World Services has been creating voting functions and updating the directory of groups/meetings. Our goal is to implement this fellowship-wide vote in a manner which represents the group conscience of all MA groups/meetings. 

Learn more about why District 12 chose to bring forth the motion for a fellowship-wide vote in the motion contextual statement: marijuana-anonymous.org/Vote

MA World Services is aware there may be changes in service members for groups/meetings prior to submitting a vote. If service positions or role merely changed, but the designated vote facilitator continues to attend the meeting, that person could still facilitate the vote. If that person is no longer able to attend through the end of the voting period (May 23, 2023) ideally they will help to delegate the duties and share the voting information including the meeting’s unique ballot ID with another service member of the meeting.

There is no need to notify MA World Services of change in service roles. This includes if the next service member has the electronic ballot information and is able to facilitate the voting process for the group/meeting.

No, there is no cost associated with altering the digital versions of all documents. 

The potential changes would be made to future versions of printed Life with Hope, the Life with Hope 12 Step Workbook, and MA pamphlets.

First, Conference approval would occur that there be a fellowship-wide vote on the Motion. 

Next, voting ballots with proposed changes are sent to all registered groups/meetings. 

For six months, groups/meetings have the opportunity to consider the proposed changes, determine the meeting/group’s conscience, and submit a vote.

Once six months have passed and votes have been submitted, the ballots will be counted. 

For the Motion to pass, 3/4 or 75% of the returned ballots must be “Yes” votes, or in favor in order for the proposed change to become effective.

In other words, returned ballots will make the determination. Any non-returned ballots will be null and will not affect the outcome. 

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 this vote, that could be the Group Service Representative, Chairperson, Secretary, or any member of the group/meeting. 

For the purpose of this vote, the group/meeting may have selected a trusted servant to facilitate the voting process; this person is responsible for managing the conversation and/or debate in a fair, organized, orderly manner. They will also be responsible for submitting the vote of the meeting/group’s conscience to MA World Services electronically using the meeting’s unique ID voting. “Our leaders are but trusted servants, they do not govern.” Please ensure that the person responsible for facilitating the voting process will accurately record the group/meetings’ vote with MA World Services. 

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 proposed changes, and potentially 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. 

Whomever has been designated by the group/meeting to facilitate this vote will give notice of the business meeting to vote on this motion. When providing notice of the business meeting, inform the members of the business meeting’s subject including all of the relevant materials provided. This will allow members sufficient time to review the motion language and accompanying materials prior to attending the business meeting. 

The link marijuana-anonymous.org/Vote and this page of frequently asked questions marijuana-anonymous.org/Vote/FAQ should be distributed as soon as possible. The length of the business meeting may be reduced by allowing everyone an opportunity to review and consider the proposed changes beforehand.

All of the above are simply suggestions for holding a business meeting. Autonomous groups/meetings are free to decide whether or not there are any such requirements for the group/meeting, including how to obtain a group conscience for the fellowship-wide vote on the proposed changes.

Autonomous groups/meetings are free to decide whether or not there are any such requirements for the group/meeting, including how to obtain a group conscience for the fellowship-wide vote on the proposed changes.

“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 edition 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 this or any other motion.

There are no requirements from MA World Services regarding how many members must participate in a group/meeting 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. 

“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 for the fellowship-wide vote on the proposed changes.  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.

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. MA’s founders were wise enough to provide meetings with 6 months to discuss, reach an informed group conscience, and return their vote on matters of importance such as proposed changes to the MA Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, so that decision making would not need to be rushed. 

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 clean and/or sober in order to be eligible to vote? According to Tradition Four, groups/meetings are autonomous and free to determine how to obtain a group conscience for the fellowship-wide vote on the proposed changes.  “The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana.” – MA Third Tradition 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 MA meetings. 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.  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.

Can a member vote more than once? There are no rules about this from the perspective of MA World Services. Unless the group conscience of the group/meeting says otherwise, members are free to vote at any and all meetings that they attend. The goal of MA World Services is to represent every member’s voice within the fellowship. It is understandable that members may want to vote at all the meetings they usually attend, if they have multiple “home groups,” groups/meetings within the same district, or groups/meetings with multiple occurrences per week. When the annual Conference motions are presented for groups/meetings to vote, nothing prohibits members from voting at more than one meeting as far as MA World Services is concerned, and in many districts, members do traditionally vote at every meeting they attend. 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 for the fellowship-wide vote on the proposed changes. Some groups/meetings may uphold a group conscience regarding if a member has already voted at another meeting. While other times a member themselves may personally carry a belief about how many times they would like to vote, even though there is no group-wide requirement in place limiting the number of times they can vote. “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 edition. pg 71-72 MA World Services does not have limitations regarding a member’s participation in one or more group conscience business meetings.

No, only groups/meetings can submit a ballot response. However, individual members can submit their vote by voting in the group conscience business meetings about this motion for the groups/meetings they attend. So while individuals cannot submit a ballot vote, there are many opportunities for individual members to vote in the different meetings/groups that they attend. 

If our meeting/group is one that meets more than one day each week, how many ballots will our meeting receive?

How will voting work for groups/meetings that meet more than one day each week but still consider themselves to be one meeting?

Our group/meeting takes place more than one time per week, but we still consider ourselves one meeting: we have one set of service positions, share a name and meeting ID & link, and we share business meetings and typically vote on things such as annual business Conference motions together. So why are we receiving separate ballots?

The response is same for all 3 questions above:

The process for the fellowship-wide vote is based on MA’s Service Manual, the guidebook that helps MA function and serve our primary purpose. The Service Manual explains the, “Procedure for Approval of Changes in the Language of the Steps, Traditions, and/or General Warranties.” This can be found in Service Manual version 7.1 on page 62:

“Should a conference motion pass which seeks to change the text of the Steps, Traditions, and/or General Warranties, the written consent of three-quarters of all groups, as required by the Conference Charter, shall be obtained as follows: The proposed change shall be sent to all meetings registered with World Services and, after no less than 6 months, those ballots returned shall be counted. A yes vote of three-quarters of the returned ballots shall be sufficient to meet the requirement of the Conference Charter to implement the proposed change(s).”

For purposes of this fellowship-wide vote, each “occurrence” of a meeting (meaning each separate day a group/meeting that meets multiple days a week meets) is considered a separate group/meeting (even if the 3 occurrences consider themselves to be one group/meeting for all other purposes) that is required to receive a ballot according to this procedure. The same set of documents sets forth that groups/meetings for the purposes of this motion means each occurrence, for purposes of a meeting/group that meets multiple times every week. And so according to the Service Manual, each occurrence of a meeting/group must receive its own ballot for purposes of this vote.

So, if your meeting/group meets multiple days each week, you will receive multiple separate ballots – one for each “occurrence” of your group/meeting. It is then up to your meeting/group what to do with those ballots. Meetings/groups are autonomous and so they are free to decide for themselves how to handle the ballots that are being provided to them for each “occurrence” of their group/meeting according to the process set out in the MA Service Manual, so long as they adhere to MA Traditions and Principles, and do not affect other groups or MA as a whole

If we’re a meeting/group that meets multiple days each week, but consider ourselves to be one meeting/group (and so we receive multiple ballots – one for each “occurrence” of our meeting/group what happens if we choose to only return one ballot and not the other’s that were sent to us?

The results of the vote will be based on whether or not “3/4 of the returned ballots” are in favor or not of the proposed change, so the results are determined based only on a count of the returned ballots. After all votes are returned, MA World Services will count the returned votes, and calculate how many “yes” votes were received. According to the process set out in the  Service Manual version 7.1, only if 3/4 or more of the returned votes are “yes” votes in favor of the proposed changes, will the proposed changes take effect. So while every single vote counts, and goes towards or against creating (or not creating) 3/4 in favor needed to make the proposed change, ballots that are not returned will be null, and not be counted.

However, each and every occurrence of a meeting is provided a vote, and so received a ballot, so it’s up to your group/meeting(s) whether or not to vote and return every ballot allotted to it according to the MA Service Manual, or to only return some of the ballots your meeting/groups received. 

“Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or MA as a whole.” Tradition Four

MA World Service does not wish to interfere with the way that any group or meeting has been going about obtaining its group conscience, if the way it is doing so functions for the group/meeting. Tradition Four states that “every group has the right of self-government undertaken without outside control. . . [and] may adopt any format it likes.” (Life with Hope 3rd edt. pg 71-72)

This means that “MA has the courage and faith to allow each group to make its own decisions” and this faith translates into having trust in MA meetings to uphold its Traditions and not make decisions which would be detrimental to other MA groups or MA as a whole. (Life with Hope 3rd edt. pg 71-72).

So rather than providing specific requirements or rules for voting or obtaining a group conscience, the information in these FAQ is offered as a resource and to provide examples of how we have heard that other groups/meetings obtain a group conscience for groups/meetings that are seeking suggestions. However, listing all of the many ways we have heard of groups/meetings obtaining a group conscience would be impossible. Just because the way your group/meeting obtains its group conscience isn’t mentioned here doesn’t mean that the way your group/meeting does it is “incorrect.” Your group or meeting is encouraged to continue obtaining its group conscience, voting and otherwise operating the way it has been if it is functioning for your group/meeting because it is this diversity in how meetings/groups choose to operate and decision to run groups/meetings in different ways that helps our fellowship grow and learn.

Tradition Four is a specific application of the general principles outlined in Traditions One and Two. Tradition Four states that every group has the right of self- government undertaken without outside control. Every group can manage itself exactly as it pleases, except where MA as a whole is affected. This means that MA has the courage and faith to allow each group to make its own decisions. In essence, each group is its own individual entity, relying on the group conscience as guided by a loving God to direct its actions.

Groups have a right to make their own mistakes. There are only two boundaries that any group must not cross: 1) A group must not do anything that would affect other groups or MA as a whole; and 2) A group cannot affiliate itself with anything or anybody else. In all other respects the groups have complete autonomy.

The group may make any decisions or adopt any format it likes. No district service committee should challenge this privilege even though a group may act in complete opposition to the district’s desires. In other words, every group has the right to set its own course.

Healthy trial and error, guided by spiritual principles, often results in a newer and better way to do things. In many cases, allowing groups liberty and freedom helps keep MA from being stuck in the rut of practices and customs that have become obsolete.

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. Each group should take special care that its actions fall within the bounds of our traditions, and that they do not dictate or force anything upon other groups. The purpose of autonomy is to give each group the freedom to establish an atmosphere of recovery that will best serve its members, and to fulfill the primary purpose stated in Tradition Five.

If you or your group/meeting is still feeling unsure about how to obtain a group conscience or run a business meeting, we encourage you to reach out first to other trusted servants and groups/meetings in your district, region, or another district for support, or to your district to see if they can assist you with finding someone who can serve as a “service sponsor” to guide you and your group/meeting through this process.

This “Service Sponsor” might be someone with some experience attending or facilitating business meetings who can answer some questions you may still have after reading these FAQ, can provide more specific examples of how other groups/meetings in your district or other districts run their group conscience business meetings, and explain anything else that they have personally learned from their own experiences in holding and/or attending business meetings for groups/meetings in your district specifically, since every district and every meeting/group has its own unique characteristics that you may find helpful to learn about in the context of holding a business meeting and seeking a group conscience.

A Service Sponsor with more experience holding business meetings can even step in and assist your group/meeting with holding or facilitating the actual business meeting if the trusted servants in your group/meeting are less familiar or comfortable with business meetings. Or you might sit in on another meeting/group in your district’s business meeting to learn how they operate before you help facilitate your meeting/group’s business meeting, if you’re aware of a meeting that has trusted servants knowledgeable about business meeting etiquette and protocol. 

Regardless of what you might see in other meetings/groups, or hear from your district or read hear from MA World Services, the MA Fourth Tradition states that meetings are autonomous, which means that ultimately it is MA meetings and groups who get to decide how they want to function. So MA World Services does not want anything that is written in these FAQ to change how your meetings/groups already obtain a group conscience and hold business meetings if it is working well already for your group(s)!

These are suggestions being offered to those meetings/groups seeking suggestions, or asking questions, or who may not even know where to begin. If you and/or your meeting/group still have questions after reading these FAQ, and after hopefully seeking support from other meetings/groups and other trusted servants in your district (or in another district, if your meeting is not part of a district) MA World Services remains available as a resource and to answer any questions that you may have about holding a business meeting, how to obtain a group conscience, what this Motion or vote is about, or anything else. We are here to help! [email protected]

Groups have six months to submit their ballot responses, so discussion and voting should not be rushed and can occur over multiple business meetings if needed. Unlike many issues we are faced with voting on, our founders had the wisdom to provide MA groups/meetings with six months to consider and come to a group conscience on these types of changes. Which means that groups and meetings do not need to make any decisions overnight, and do not need to be hasty. Meetings/groups can discuss these issues in a business meeting, and if a consensus is not reached, or not all voices are heard, table further discussion for a future business meeting. This can be discussed over multiple business meetings to allow everyone to have a voice, especially minority opinions. This time also allows everyone ample opportunity to read the material and think about the proposed changes as well.

Remember the concepts of open-mindedness and willingness to listen to all voices, especially the minority view, in your group/meeting’s discussions. Much as the concepts of open-mindedness and willingness are key to working our own programs and getting and staying sober from marijuana, so too are these same concepts key to holding an effective group conscience business meeting. To reach an informed group conscience involves being open minded and having a willingness to be mindful of hearing all opinions, especially minority opinions, and not just the loudest voices in the room.

Remember to “pause, when agitated or doubtful…” and take breaks in the discussion or voting if your meeting/group needs it. As the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous cautions on page 87 to, “pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action”. us marijuana addicts too can benefit from this advice, particularly in these potentially heated discussions over whether or not to make these proposed changes. We can remember to pause if the business meeting is causing members to become agitated, whether it be for a minute to all raise our hands to recite “The Serenity Prayer” together to remember why we’re debating this issue in the first place (to help us determine how to best fulfill our primary purpose and carry the message to the addict who still suffers), or a 5-10 minute break to pray, meditate, get up to stretch our legs or grab a drink of water, or a week long break to table the business meeting until the following week so members can calm down, sleep, and think on the points raised during the discussion. If anyone’s minds are going to change, they’ll be more likely to do so if given the time to step away, reflect on the discussion, and let any emotions cool, and not while still swept up in the heat of the moment.  Decisions made when members of the group/meeting are feeling “agitated or doubtful” are not as likely to be grounded in spirituality, nor are they as likely to be a product of members’ best thinking, or that next “right thought or action” so many of us in recovery are working towards. If members are feeling “agitated or doubtful” as a group during these discussions, then it is wise for all to “pause” and “seek the next indicated right thought or action” as the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous suggests. p. 87. Better decision making can usually then occur after allowing everyone in the meeting some time to pause and do whatever each member needs to do in order to reset.