Marijuana Anonymous World Services holds its annual Conference in May each year. The location of the Conference is determined at the previous Conference. Guidelines for districts interested in hosting the conference are in place. [See Future Conferences]

The Marijuana Anonymous World Service Conference is the forum at which group conscience throughout MA is expressed, and decisions are made that affect MA as a whole. The Conference is also where much of MAWS work is performed. Trustees and committee chairs are selected at the MAWS Conference. The Conference also provides the opportunity to meet MA members from other districts and share experience, strength and hope. This sharing provides the unity that binds all members to our common purpose.

The Marijuana Anonymous World Service Conference usually occurs over Memorial Day weekend each year. The Conference has several different types of meetings. There is usually an opening general meeting at which points of general interest are discussed and the conference agenda is approved. At that meeting, a list of candidates for trustee elections is also established.

Much of the actual work of the Conference is conducted in separate committee meetings. There are several committees, and each voting conference member is also a member of a particular committee. Each committee conducts its own work and prepares reports and recommendations to be voted on at the general session.

It is at the general business sessions that proposals are made by committees and others. Here decisions are made that affect Marijuana Anonymous the society, as well as MAWS, Inc. Because these sessions have a large number of members in attendance, and the agenda is frequently quite full, general business meetings are formal and often strictly conducted. A modified form of Rules of Order is applied to assure that business meetings stay focused and organized.

The procedure for obtaining Conference Approval of Work can be read on the Obtaining Conference Approval page. The term “Work” is defined as any artistic work or composition including, but not limited to: text, graphics, audio and/or video.

Conference Members

The Members of the Conference are the Trustees, Delegates and appointed or elected Marijuana Anonymous World Service committee heads and coordinators. Each district, under present rules, can send two Delegates to the Conference. In addition, there are currently thirteen Trustees. Trustees are elected at the Conference according to the Third Legacy procedure.

Each Conference Member has only one vote, no matter how many positions they may hold. Voting procedures are set forth in the Conference Charter, and Bylaws of Marijuana Anonymous World Services.