How Recovery Dharma and Marijuana Anonymous Support Healing from Cannabis Use
If you’ve ever found yourself caught in the loop of “I’ll stop tomorrow” followed by “just one more time,” you know the quiet ache of longing for something beyond “not using.” Perhaps you’re also tuning into the ways that the substance (in this case, marijuana) became a way to soften the edges of anxiety, social hesitation, or creative block, and now, you’re ready to turn toward a fuller you. I’ve been there too.
In stepping into recovery, I found that what helped wasn’t just not using, but connecting—to voice, to breath, to community, to meaning. Two spaces in particular welcomed me: Recovery Dharma and Marijuana Anonymous. They are different, yes, but complementary. Below is my story of joining them, how they differ, and why you might consider entering one or both.
What is Recovery Dharma?
Recovery Dharma describes itself as a “peer-led movement using Buddhist practices and principles to overcome addiction through meditation, personal inquiry, and community.”
Here are some of the key characteristics:
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Rooted in the Buddhist notions of Dharma (truth/direction) and Sangha (community).
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Meetings often include guided meditation, readings, silence, sharing. The structure invites you to turn inward—to your body, nervous system, emotional processing—and outward into a supportive community.
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It is non-theistic (you don’t need to “believe” in any particular religious framework) and peer-led.
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The emphasis is on recovering from suffering (including addiction) by noticing craving, by wisdom, by connection, by practice. In fact, a study found that frequency of meditation + peer support in RD predicted greater “recovery capital”.
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You can join virtual meetings via their global meeting list.
Why it helped me: Because I was dealing with social anxiety, nervous-system stuff, and the creeping sense that marijuana had become a way to soften or numb the edges rather than fully live through them. Recovery Dharma’s format let me feel into those edges with support: the meditation settled my nervous system, the readings gave me language for what I was experiencing, and the sharing reminded me I wasn’t alone.
Link to explore: Recovery Dharma meetings — you’ll find many online/virtual options.
What is Marijuana Anonymous (MA)?
Marijuana Anonymous is a dedicated 12-step fellowship focussed specifically on problematic cannabis use and dependence.
Here are key features:
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Straightforward: If you’re struggling with marijuana/cannabis, MA says “you’re in the right place.” The only requirement is the desire to stop using.
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Uses the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions framework (borrowed from Alcoholics Anonymous) adapted for cannabis.
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Large global presence of virtual meetings — MA has hundreds of online/phone meetings accessible worldwide.
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Offers tools like a mobile app for day-count, workbook, etc.
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Emphasizes anonymity, peer support, shared experience, strength, hope.
Why it helped me: Once I acknowledged I was using cannabis in ways that no longer served my goals (creative clarity, social ease, emotional processing), MA gave me a map—the steps, the sponsor-style model, the peer connection of “people who get it.” And the virtual options meant I could join from home, which felt safe given my social anxiety.
Link to explore: Marijuana Anonymous meetings — scroll to find “Online” or in your time-zone.
The Differences (and Why Both Matter)
While both programs support recovery, they have distinctive flavours that may meet different needs (or serve in tandem):
| Program | Focus & Approach | Who it’s good for |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery Dharma |
Buddhist-inspired, meditation and mindfulness, self-inquiry + community, any addiction
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If you’re drawn to meditation, nervous-system regulation, spiritual & artistic tone, deeper inquiry |
| Marijuana Anonymous | 12-step, cannabis-specific, peer support and structure for abstaining |
If your primary challenge is cannabis use/addiction and you want a structured peer-led abstinence path
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You might choose one or the other based on where you feel starting, or you might use both. For example: attend Recovery Dharma (RD) for meditation + nervous system regulation, and attend Mariujuana Anonymous (MA) for the specific cannabis-use recovery community and accountability. Also feel free to join Thrive Circles and Embody Hour because they offer supports for social anxiety, nervous system work, learning more about yourself through expressive arts, combining a rich, layered support system.
Virtual Support: How to Get Started
Here’s a friendly step-by-step you might share with others (and follow yourself) to ease into the virtual world of support:
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Pick one meeting this week — just one. At a time you can manage.
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Log in early (for virtual) so you feel comfortable with technology. Some meetings have waiting rooms, audio-only, etc. (MA has online meeting safety suggestions).
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Stay for the full meeting (even if you share very littlem or not at all). You’re there to listen & belong, not necessarily to speak at first.
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Notice: As you land in the meeting, how does your nervous system feel? What thoughts/worries arise? What voice of self-judgement?
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Share (optional): If you feel safe, you might say “I’m new” or “I’m dealing with cannabis use and ....” — simple, honest.
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Afterwards: Reflect or journal. What did I notice? What stuck?
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Stay connected: If it resonated, bookmark 2-3 meetings/week. If one didn’t feel right, try another (different time, facilitator, format).
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Integrate your recovery tone: Use artistic/spiritual self-expression (journaling, drawing, sound bath meditation) as a companion to the meetings — your extra “container” of connection.
An Invitation to You
Because I know this territory you’re in—wanting to heal, wanting authentic connection beyond substances, wanting your nervous system to thrive rather than just survive—I encourage you to raise your hand for one of these communities this week.
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Click into Recovery Dharma’s meeting list: https://recoverydharma.org/meetings/
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Click into Marijuana Anonymous meeting finder: https://marijuana-anonymous.org/meetings/
You don’t have to commit beyond “I’ll show up this once.” See how you feel. See if you can say to yourself: Here I am. I’m done staying stuck. I’m choosing connection and healing.
And if you feel a tangle of fear—“What if I screw up?”, “What if I’m judged?”—that’s all okay. The very presence of the fear means you’re moving. You’re stepping out of isolation. That is powerful. Also, if you feel like you can't do this then please reach out and book a one to one session where we can build your capacity to join groups in these spaces!
Final Reflections
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This work is much more than not using cannabis — it’s about becoming someone who no longer needs to use it, because you are connected, grounded, expressive, regulated, and in community.
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With Embody and Thrive's vision, seeing recovery as an invitation into thriving (not just abstaining) aligns beautifully. Both RD and MA can be part of that invitation.
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Invite yourself to gentle curiosity: what happens if I show up, even once? What wisdom arises? What nervous-system shift do I feel? What relationship with creativity, with people, with myself might begin to widen?