Individuals who wish to quit using marijuana may find help in Marijuana Anonymous, a 12-step, spiritual-based recovery program modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous.
The group has meetings in 24 states and three international locations. Wisconsin does not currently have an MA program.
MA also has a website, online meetings and a book, “Life With Hope,” all intended to aid individuals living in areas without access to meetings.
Marijuana Anonymous relies on individuals’ willingness to submit themselves to a “higher power” and is intended to help marijuana users “solve our common problem and help others to recover from marijuana addiction,” according to the mission statement. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana, and there are no dues or fees for membership. Marijuana Anonymous is self-sufficient through contributions and is not affiliated with any religious or secular institution.
The founder of the Chicago Marijuana Anonymous meeting, who wishes only to be known as Steve J., has been sober for over three years because of joining the group. Although Steve does not represent Marijuana Anonymous or their opinions, he said marijuana users face different obstacles than other substance users.
“[Marijuana Anonymous] started because people who were only addicted to marijuana found that their problems were different than people addicted to other drugs. It does not typically have the debilitating effects as other drugs do, and consequently pot smokers can convince themselves they do not have a problem,” Steve J. said.
Although Marijuana Anonymous claims to aid the marijuana “addict,” marijuana has not been proven to be physically addictive. Physiological dependence, however, can develop with consistent, long-term use. According to the book Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base, this is a common misconception about marijuana. Marijuana and Medicine notes: “Tolerance, dependence and withdrawal are often presumed to imply abuse or addiction, but this is not the case. Tolerance and dependence are normal physiological adaptations to repeated use of any drug. The correct use of prescribed medications for pain, anxiety and even hypertension commonly produces tolerance and some measure of physiological dependence.”
Some individuals feel MA’s goal to aid alleged addicts is a flaw in the program.
“Essentially, MA is a support group for people with dependency issues, but not addictions to real drugs,” UW senior Ben Durham said. “In fact, the individuals probably become more addicted to and dependent on the support group then they do on the marijuana. I’m not saying that you cannot become dependent on marijuana, but it is far less common, because marijuana is not physically addicting.”
University Health Services counselor Wendy Schmidt-Janosik said even if marijuana is not physically addicting, its use is a problem at UW.
“One student who came to me about marijuana said something, and I like this quote. He said "It’s like quicksand. Before you know it, you’re up to your neck in it,'” Schmidt-Janosik said.
UHS offers assessments and screenings for individuals who have problems with marijuana use, but they do not offer treatment. Schmidt-Janosik said programs such as Marijuana Anonymous can be beneficial.
“Programs like this do aid some individuals,” she said. “For other individuals, it’s not as helpful.”
