THE RULES

In a perfect world we wouldn’t need rules at all, but we are a place that is very focused on a singular mission: to help people who have made the very difficult decision that they can never use cannabis again.

We have a well-earned reputation for being narrow in our focus and strict with our enforcement, and while being strict isn’t always fun, we hope you can appreciate that it’s the focus and the rules that keep this a safe and productive place for everyone.

Let’s look at the main rules in the sidebar:

This is a place for people who have made the decision to quit using cannabis for good. If you haven't made that decision yet you are still welcome, but we just ask you to listen and not participate.

It’s important to understand that we don’t advocate for anyone to quit or even consider quitting. There are as many ways to have a healthy relationship with cannabis as there are people. But we do have a mission, and that’s to serve the people who, after so many tries and so many problems, have decided that they have to stop and stop forever.

That means that we have to draw some lines — if you get the impression that they haven’t made the hard decision to be done for good then that’s a reason to remove their post or comment and we have mod messages you can send them. Some examples of things that aren’t a fit for us:

• “I’m going to quit for a month and see where I am.”

• “I’m gradually cutting back until my birthday in 6 months.”

• “I’ve made the decision to stop abusing cannabis.” (This often means they are just cutting back.)

• “I need to find a better relationship with smoking.”

• “I’ve totally quit, and will only smoke on super-specially occasions.

If you are high right now that's okay, but please just listen and don't participate.

We’re all here because we’ve all been high, and we know that all kinds of life-changing resolutions are made when we’re high that just don’t survive until morning. So for Leaves, a decision to quit is only a reliable decision if you make the decision sober.

Also, asking our members, many of whom are hanging on to their sobriety by a thread, to interact with someone who is smoking can put them in a bad place.

We are a place of kindness. If you can't be patient and understanding then just take a deep breath and don't respond, even if people aren't being patient with you. And we don't do tough love here, just the regular kind.

Please no medical questions, or discussion of other drugs, supplements, or remedies, including CBD or melatonin.

Please no links to outside media, studies, or other resources. The only expert we want to hear from is you talking about you.

You're welcome to talk about how your own faith helped you, but please do not recommend your faith to others.

Moderators are here to keep this a happy place, please be patient with them and let them do their job, even if you may disagree.

But keep in mind that we can’t anticipate everything, so you have wide latitude in enforcing anything that you don’t feel is appropriate for the group. It doesn’t have to be in the rules for you to decide to take action.

Most important: When you run into problems, especially problems that don’t seem like they are covered by the rules, make a note in your Session Report so we can all understand what happened and learn to do better!

Now let’s look at how we wield The Leaves Hammer of Justice…

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