NOT ALL GREEN THINGS GOD PUT ON EARTH SHOULD BE EATEN OR
SMOKED

Right on, Jennifer Paton ("Calling marijuana a natural drug ignores
altered states it causes," May 17). Savon Duchein's misinformation is
correct, that God did give us green herbs for our use (Genesis 9:3).
However, this is just one more compelling example of taking a sentence
or phrase out of context. Would it make sense to use that same
reference to justify eating baneberry, deadly monkshood or other
highly poisonous plants? Yes, Jesus also stated that "if they drink
any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them" (Mark 16:18). But we are
also warned not to tempt the Lord our God (Matthew 4:7).

Hemp (pot, marijuana) makes good cord and rope. It probably has many
other good uses, as do fossils and sticks. Not all plants are edible
or smokable. A little common sense goes a long way.

BEV KIRK

Chugiak