Police arrest MS patient for lighting joint

LONDON, Ont. (Special) A mother of four with multiple sclerosis has
launched a protest against Canada's marijuana laws by lighting up a joint
in front of this city's police headquarters.

Lynn Harichy dared police to arrest her and they did after telling a
small crowd of onlookers marijuana should be legalized for health reasons
because it helps control her pain.

Harichy, 36, says she knows many people who use marijuana to alleviate
chronic pain caused by diseases like AIDS and cancer, but says many of them
do not want to come forward.

The police knew ahead of time what was going to happen and said through a
spokesperson that they planned to enforce the existing law. Harichy was
detained briefly before being released with a note to appear in court on
Oct. 14 on a charge of possession of a banned substance.

She says smoking marijuana relieves the severe pain in her limbs that
sometimes stops her even from walking.