Pubdate: Oct. 17, 1997
Source: London Free Press 
Website: http://www.canoe.ca/LondonOpinions/ 
Address: 369 York St., London, Ont., N6A 4G1 
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Section: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

God doesn't give us diseases

Regarding the Speaker's Corner, Marijuana doesn't make us crazy, the
illness does (Sept. 24), by Lynn Harichy.

In defence of God and marijuana: diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, are
no more an act of God than crimes committed by humans, including the
poverty of our children, the neglect of our elderly and the discrimination
of our disabled. God doesn't give us disease for any perceived reason.

Diseases are an abhorrence of nature, mostly caused by the gross
mismanagement of it by humans.  God, however, did give us nature, with all
its wondrous gifts, such as remedial herbs. With these, he gave us the
power and the choice to use them intelligently or to abuse them. We should
treat God's gifts with respect and responsibility.  What God has given
Harichy is not this dreadful disease, but the tools to deal with it,
including courage, intelligence and marijuana.

SUZANNE AUBERTIN
London