Miss Australia, Monika Radulovic made it to the top 5 of the recently concluded 2015 Miss Universe beauty pageant. But she missed out on making it to the last three after the question and answer part. When asked,
"Australia is taking its first step towards legalizing marijuana, do you think that's a good idea and why?" Radulovic confidently answered;
"Now this topic has its positives and negatives and it's quite debated. I believe that in certain circumstances legalizing marijuana does have definite benefits,
"It has been found to be really amazing in treating cancer and has really, really helped those very, very sick, so in that circumstance, I definitely do think yes, we should, but the government should definitely weigh both options."
According to Daily Mail, the 25-year-old beauty's controversial answer may have cost her chances to win the crown, while also offending anti-drug activist in her home country.
Meanwhile, the proponents of legalization of marijuana are still celebrating over the recent lifting of the ban against medical marijuana on the federal level, according to Inquisitr. Representative Dana Rohrabacher, co-author of the provision, commented on their political triumph.
"This is a victory for so many. The first time in decades that the federal government has curtailed its oppressive prohibition of marijuana."
Provisions in the new law states that federal agents can no longer arrest medical marijuana users and dispensaries. The new ruling is believed to soften the views of the federal government about marijuana.
The campaign to legalize medical marijuana in the United States started in the early 1990s. Two decades later, 32 of the 50 states, and the District of Columbia have bended their laws to make medical marijuana, or the ingredients there, legal for medical use. Despite the success of the campaign, marijuana is still categorized under Schedule I controlled substance. Drugs and substance under this group are considered the most addictive and have no medical use.
However, several research conducted here and abroad proves that marijuana is valuable in treating some medical conditions such as seizure disorders, glaucoma, nerve problems such as neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, migraines, intense chronic pain and treatment of chemotherapy induced symptoms in cancer patients.
Due to its proven medical use, medical marijuana proponents push to de-classify marijuana as Schedule I controlled substance. Because of these new development, people in favor of legalization of marijuana are optimistic that they will soon get the approval of the Congress for the total legalization of marijuana. As Bill Piper, lobbyist for Drug Policy Alliance put it;
"The war on medical marijuana is over. Now the fight moves on to legalization of all marijuana. This is the strongest signal we have received from Congress [that] the politics have really shifted.... Congress has been slow to catch up with the states and American people, but it is catching up."
