Instructions:  Conduct research about a recent current event using credible sources. Then, compile what you’ve learned to write your own hard or soft news article. Minimum: 250 words. Feel free to do outside research to support your claims.  Remember to: be objective, include a lead that answers the...

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Mildura, an Australian town northwest of Melbourne, was shocked by a pink sky in the evening this last Wednesday. This sight may have looked like something straight out of a sci-fi novel, but it was actually caused by a medical cannabis facility nearby.

The marijuana facility, which is managed by Cann Group, uses red LED lights for plant growth. Usually, blackout curtains are utilized to conceal the revealing pink glow. These curtains weren’t closed when the pink sky incident occurred on Wednesday due to the facility performing tests on the LEDs.

This new facility was a secret to surrounding communities until it inadvertently lit up the sky pink. Due to this event, the Mildura facility has been attracting a lot of publicity. The attention from this event will surely shine a light (no pun intended) on the emerging Australian marijuana business.

Anne Webster, an Australian lawmaker, says “[The Australian medical marijuana industry] is providing jobs, and this is only the tip of the iceberg because it has quite a future for growth”. New economic progress is inevitable as newsworthy events give this industry more publicity.

In fact, the medical cannabis industry in Australia had a revenue of around $160 million in 2021. This business is positively impacting the Australian economy.

Not only is marijuana beneficial economically, but it is also helpful health-wise. Peter Grinspoon, MD, a contributor to Harvard Health Blog, writes that “[marijuana] is quite effective for the chronic pain that plagues millions of Americans, especially as they age.”. Additionally, it is impossible to overdose on medical cannabis and it can replace other medications for patients that have kidney problems.

Mildura’s pink sky serves as a great publicized event that will eventually help economically grow the medical marijuana industry. It will also draw attention to the health benefits of marijuana. At the very least, the pink sky will stay in Mildura residents’ memories forever. Sounds like a great story to tell the grandkids!

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/23/australia-mildura-medical-marijuana-pink-sky/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/medical-marijuana-2018011513085

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