madistrict12.org

Marijuana Anonymous (MA) uses the same basic 12 Steps of Recovery that Alcoholics Anonymous founded, on the premise that the 12-step program has been proven to work. District 12, which covers Marin and Sonoma Counties, describes its primary purpose as staying free of marijuana and helping the marijuana addict who still suffers achieve the same freedom — pursued by practicing the suggested twelve steps and being guided as a group by the twelve traditions. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana.

What the 12 Steps are, and where MA got them

MA did not write its own recovery framework from scratch. According to District 12, the fellowship "uses the basic 12 Steps of Recovery founded by Alcoholics Anonymous, because it has been proven that the 12 Step Recovery program works." The steps are described as suggested rather than mandatory, and the group is guided by the twelve traditions — the principles that govern how MA groups operate and relate to one another.

If you want the full step language and how it is applied specifically to marijuana addiction, District 12 points members to the MA World Services website rather than reproducing the steps locally.

The two things that define MA practice

That last row matters if you are wary of being recruited into something else. MA presents itself as a fellowship of men and women sharing experience, strength, and hope with each other to solve a common problem — not as a program tied to a church, clinic, or cause.

Why service is treated as part of recovery, not an extra

District 12 states plainly that doing service — whether at a weekly meeting or monthly at the district meeting — is "a key part of staying clean from marijuana." The reasoning given is social: addicts tend to isolate, and meetings plus service are described as good ways to make friends in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.

Concretely, service can look like:

• Attending a weekly 12-step meeting
• Serving as a Group Service Representative (GSR) for your meeting
• Joining the monthly District 12 meeting, where GSRs from each weekly meeting gather to decide how best to serve those meetings

District 12's own district meeting is held on the second Tuesday of every month at 5:45 PM PST, currently virtual only via Zoom (meeting number 876 1445 2808). The district explicitly welcomes "all recovering potheads."

How to actually start

1. Check whether a meeting near you is running. District 12 directs visitors to its meetings page for current meeting status, since schedules change.
2. If nothing local fits, go online. MA World Services hosts online meetings at https://marijuana-anonymous.org/find-a-meeting/.
3. If you prefer voice-only, try phone meetings. District 12 points to ma-phone.org for MA phone meetings.
4. Show up with no commitment beyond wanting to stop. There are no dues or fees, and the stated requirement for membership is simply a desire to stop using marijuana.

Common sticking points

• "Do I have to be religious?" MA states it is not affiliated with any religious or secular institution or organization and holds no opinion on outside controversies or causes. The steps are described as suggested.
• "Do I have to speak?" The source material does not specify meeting formats or sharing requirements; that is best confirmed with the specific meeting you plan to attend.
• "Is the district meeting the same as a recovery meeting?" No. The monthly District 12 meeting is a service meeting where GSRs coordinate how to support the weekly meetings — it is not a substitute for a regular 12-step meeting.
• "What if my local meeting isn't listed?" Use the online and phone options above rather than assuming no meeting exists; District 12 advises checking the meetings page for current status.

For anything beyond this overview — the step text itself, literature, and broader program detail — District 12 refers members to MA World Services.

Marijuana Anonymous District 12 is the local service body of the Marijuana Anonymous (MA) fellowship covering Marin and Sonoma Counties in California. It exists to connect people who want to stop using marijuana with 12-step meetings and related support. If you are looking for a meeting in that area, or want to know how MA works before attending, this district's site is the starting point.

What the organization is

Marijuana Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other to solve their common problem and help others recover from marijuana addiction. District 12 is the geographic unit that organizes and supports the weekly meetings in Marin and Sonoma Counties.

Key facts about membership, as stated by the district:

• The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana.
• There are no dues or fees for membership.
• MA is self-supporting through members' own contributions.
• MA is not affiliated with any religious or secular institution or organization and takes no position on outside controversies or causes.
• The primary purpose is to stay free of marijuana and help other marijuana addicts achieve the same freedom.

The program uses the basic 12 Steps of Recovery founded by Alcoholics Anonymous, on the basis that the 12-step approach has been proven to work.

What the site offers

The district site is mainly a directory and information hub. Its pages include:

The site also notes that MA World Services offers online meetings through its own meeting finder, so people outside Marin and Sonoma — or anyone who prefers online attendance — have that option.

Meetings and district service

District 12 has meetings on many days of the week. Beyond the regular 12-step meetings, there is a monthly District 12 meeting where Group Service Representatives (GSRs) from each weekly meeting gather to decide how best to serve those meetings.

• District meeting time: second Tuesday of every month at 5:45 PM PST.
• Format: currently virtual only, held via Zoom.
• Zoom meeting number: 876 1445 2808.
• Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87614452808

The district describes service — whether at a weekly meeting or the monthly district meeting — as a key part of staying clean from marijuana, and frames meetings and service as ways to counter the isolation that addicts tend toward.

Other ways to connect

• Phone meetings: the district points to ma-phone.org for marijuana anonymous phone meetings, and suggests posting the ma-phone.org flyer in local hang-out spots.
• Text or call: 707-861-8168, listed for Marin and Sonoma Counties.
• Email: the site has an email contact form.
• LGBTQ outreach: the site notes an MA World Services LGBTQ Outreach Committee is forming.

Who this is for

This district is relevant if you live in or near Marin or Sonoma Counties and want an in-person or local 12-step meeting for marijuana addiction, or if you want to do service at the district level. If you are outside that area, or want meetings at any hour, the MA World Services online meeting finder is the better first stop. The district meeting itself is open to all recovering potheads, per the site.

You can reach Marijuana Anonymous District 12 by texting or calling 707-861-8168, or by emailing through the contact form on madistrict12.org. To join the monthly District 12 meeting, log into Zoom on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:45 PM PST using meeting number 876 1445 2808 or the link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87614452808. The district meeting is currently virtual only, and it's open to all recovering potheads — not just elected representatives.

Contacting District 12

District 12 serves Marin and Sonoma Counties in California. The site lists one direct contact method:

• Text or call: 707-861-8168
• Email: via the contact form on the site

If your question is about whether a specific weekly meeting is still running, the site directs you to the meetings page rather than the phone line. For online meetings outside the district, MA World Services maintains its own meeting finder at https://marijuana-anonymous.org/find-a-meeting/.

Joining the Monthly District Meeting

What happens there: GSRs from the weekly meetings get together to figure out how to best serve those meetings. The district describes service — whether at a weekly meeting or at the monthly district meeting — as a key part of staying clean from marijuana, and notes that meetings and service are good ways to make friends in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.

To join: open the Zoom link or enter meeting number 876 1445 2808 in the Zoom app at the scheduled time. No separate registration step is described on the site.

Other Ways to Connect

• Phone meetings: ma-phone.org hosts MA phone meetings; the site also offers a flyer to post in local hang-out spots.
• Online meetings: MA World Services lists them at https://marijuana-anonymous.org/find-a-meeting/.
• LGBTQ outreach: the site notes an MA World Services LGBTQ Outreach Committee is forming.

What District 12 Is

Marijuana Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share experience, strength, and hope to solve their common problem and help others recover from marijuana addiction. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana. There are no dues or fees; the fellowship is self-supporting through its own contributions. MA is not affiliated with any religious or secular institution and takes no position on outside controversies. Its primary purpose is to stay free of marijuana and help the marijuana addict who still suffers achieve the same freedom, through the suggested twelve steps and twelve traditions.

The only requirement for membership in Marijuana Anonymous District 12 is a desire to stop using marijuana. District 12 serves Marin and Sonoma Counties in California, and its meetings are open to anyone who meets that single condition — there are no dues or fees, no religious affiliation, and no application process.

The Single Membership Requirement

Marijuana Anonymous states plainly that "the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana." That means:

• You do not need to be sober for any length of time before attending.
• You do not need a formal diagnosis or referral.
• You do not need to commit to anything beyond showing up.

If you are questioning whether your marijuana use is a problem, you still qualify. The desire to stop is the threshold, not proof that you already have.

Who District 12 Serves

District 12 covers Marin and Sonoma Counties and hosts meetings on many days of the week. The district describes itself as welcoming to "all recovering potheads," and its materials emphasize a supportive, non-judgmental environment.

Beyond weekly 12-step meetings, District 12 holds a monthly district meeting where Group Service Representatives (GSRs) from each weekly meeting coordinate how best to serve those groups. Service at either level — weekly or monthly — is described as a key part of staying clean from marijuana.

What MA Does Not Require or Represent

MA is not affiliated with any religious or secular institution or organization, and it holds no opinion on outside controversies or causes. Practically, this means:

• No religious belief or practice is required to participate.
• No political or organizational loyalty is expected.
• The fellowship is self-supporting through members' own contributions rather than dues or fees.

The program uses the basic 12 Steps of Recovery founded by Alcoholics Anonymous, which MA describes as proven to work. MA World Services provides further detail on how the 12-Step program applies specifically to marijuana addiction.

How to Take the Next Step

If you meet the single requirement — a desire to stop using marijuana — you can:

1. Find a meeting through the District 12 meetings page to check the status of a meeting near you.
2. Attend an online meeting via MA World Services at https://marijuana-anonymous.org/find-a-meeting/.
3. Join the monthly District 12 meeting, held on the second Tuesday of every month at 5:45 PM PST. These meetings are currently virtual only, via Zoom: meeting number 876 1445 2808, or https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87614452808.
4. Try phone meetings through ma-phone.org.
5. Contact District 12 by text or call at 707-861-8168, or use the email form on the site.

Common Points of Uncertainty

"I'm not sure I'm an addict." The requirement is a desire to stop, not a label. You can attend and decide for yourself.

"Do I have to live in Marin or Sonoma?" District 12's meetings serve those counties, but MA World Services lists online and phone meetings that are not geographically limited.

"Is there a cost?" No dues or fees are charged for membership. The fellowship is self-supporting through voluntary contributions.

"Is it religious?" No. MA is not affiliated with any religious or secular institution and takes no position on outside controversies.

Marijuana Anonymous District 12 serves Marin and Sonoma Counties in California and holds meetings on many days of the week. To find one, start on the District 12 meetings page, which is the page the site itself points to for checking the status of a meeting near you. If nothing local fits your schedule, two other options exist: online meetings through MA World Services and phone meetings through ma-phone.org.

Start With the District 12 Meetings Page

The site's own guidance is direct: "To check the status of a meeting near you, go to our meetings page." That page is where current local meeting information lives, so it is the right first stop rather than relying on a schedule copied somewhere else.

District 12 covers Marin and Sonoma Counties and has meetings many days of the week, so there is a reasonable chance of finding a day and time that works. Because meeting times and formats can change, treat the meetings page as the source of truth and re-check it before you go.

If You Cannot Attend Locally

Two alternatives are listed for people who cannot make a District 12 meeting:

• Online meetings — MA World Services offers them at https://marijuana-anonymous.org/find-a-meeting/. This is useful if you are outside Marin and Sonoma, traveling, or prefer not to attend in person.
• Phone meetings — Visit ma-phone.org to attend MA phone meetings. The site also suggests posting the ma-phone.org flyer in places you frequent to help spread the word.

What Happens at a District 12 Meeting

Marijuana Anonymous describes itself as a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope to solve their common problem and help others recover from marijuana addiction. Two points matter if you are deciding whether to walk in:

• The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana.
• There are no dues or fees for membership; the fellowship is self-supporting through its own contributions.

MA states it is not affiliated with any religious or secular institution or organization and takes no position on outside controversies or causes. Its stated primary purpose is to stay free of marijuana and help the marijuana addict who still suffers do the same, through the suggested twelve steps of recovery and the twelve traditions that guide the group.

The Monthly District Meeting

Beyond the regular 12-step meetings, District 12 holds a monthly district meeting where Group Service Representatives (GSRs) from each weekly meeting gather to decide how best to serve those meetings.

• When: the second Tuesday of every month at 5:45 PM PST
• Where: currently virtual only, via Zoom
• Zoom meeting number: 876 1445 2808
• Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87614452808

The site notes that all recovering potheads are welcome, and that doing service — whether at a weekly meeting or monthly at the district meeting — is described as a key part of staying clean from marijuana. The reasoning given is that addicts tend to isolate, and meetings plus service are presented as ways to make friends in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.

Other Ways to Get Involved or Ask Questions

• MA Forum — listed among the site's pages.
• Email — the site provides an email contact form ("Email us below").
• Text or call — 707-861-8168.
• LGBTQ outreach — the site notes an LGBTQ Outreach Committee is forming through MA World Services.

Quick Reference

If you are unsure whether a meeting is still running, check the meetings page first, then use the phone number or email form if the page does not answer your question.