Who Are Marijuana Anonymous Phone Meetings For, and What Should a Newcomer Expect?

Marijuana Anonymous (MA) phone meetings are for anyone who has a desire to stop using marijuana (cannabis). District 28's site states this directly: "If you have a desire to stop using marijuana (cannabis), you have come to the right place." You do not need to have already stopped, and the site does not describe any membership fee, registration, or official status required to join. The meetings are held by phone in Eastern time, and District 28 lists more than 35 phone meetings per week.

Who the meetings are intended for

The site frames the audience around a single condition: a desire to stop using marijuana. Its opening questions are aimed at readers who recognize a pattern in their own use — for example, planning your life around cannabis use, or wanting to stop smoking pot or weed but finding you could not. If either of those sounds familiar, the phone meetings are designed for you to try.

The site does not describe eligibility rules beyond that desire, and it does not state that you must identify as an addict or have any particular amount or history of use. The practical test the site offers is simply whether you want to stop.

What a newcomer should expect

The site's navigation points to several resources that map out what happens in a meeting:

• Newcomer FAQ — answers common first-time questions.
• How to Participate — explains the mechanics of joining.
• Meeting Readings — the readings used during meetings.
• Prayers — the prayers included in the meeting format.
• Newcomer scripts — scripted openings, including a dedicated "MAWPM Script-Newcomers," that walk a newcomer through the start of a meeting.

Taken together, these indicate a structured meeting that includes readings, prayers, and shared discussion, with a scripted portion specifically for newcomers. The site also lists Speaker Tapes and an MA Speaker Tapes Podcast, which let you hear shares before attending. Other listed resources include Virtual Sobriety Chips, a Request a Chip page, and the Marijuana Anonymous App.

Meeting types listed on the site

The site's menu distinguishes several meeting formats, which is useful when choosing a first meeting:

Each of these has its own script and guidelines pages on the site, so you can read the format before calling in.

How to decide whether to try one

Use the site's own framing as your checklist:

1. Do you have a desire to stop using marijuana? If yes, you meet the stated condition for attending.
2. Do you want to understand the format before joining? Read the Newcomer FAQ, How to Participate, and the newcomer script first.
3. Would hearing others help you decide? Listen to a Speaker Tape or the podcast.
4. Do you prefer a particular setting? Choose among the open, women's, or men's meetings listed.

If the answer to the first question is yes, the site's position is that you belong at a meeting — the remaining steps are just about making your first call comfortable.

Practical notes and open questions

Meetings are listed in Eastern time, so check the schedule against your own time zone before calling. District 28 states it offers over 35 phone meetings a week, giving you multiple slots to choose from.

The site also includes a "Make a 7th tradition contribution" page and an "About Tradition Seven" section. These describe a voluntary contribution practice within the fellowship; the site does not state an amount, a requirement, or that attendance depends on contributing. Treat any contribution as optional and separate from joining a meeting.

Details the site does not spell out — such as the exact dial-in numbers, access codes, and the full weekly schedule — are handled on its Meeting Schedules and How to Participate pages. Check those pages for the current call-in details before your first meeting.