Gaffe of the week: Miss Iowa wants marijuana used for recreation only

Usually Miss America contestants are talking about how they want to make the world a more peaceful place, but at last weekend's pageant one sounded like she wanted to legalize pot.

Miss Iowa Mariah Cary (that's her real name) was asked by a judge what the U.S. should do about the rampant use of marijuana.

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"I think that depends on the situation," she said. "I personally know people who have had to go to medical marijuana for their last resort, for their health care and I completely agree with that...However, I don't think it should be used for anything but recreational use and health care."

Possibly the best part of this gaffe isn't her answer, but the reaction. The crowd erupts in applause, leading me to believe either it's full of stoners or they isn't really listening to what she has to say. But it's probably the latter because potheads aren't usually that enthusiastic with their applause. Even host Chris Harrison doesn't flinch. The Bachelor/Bachelorette/Bachelor Pad host just thanks Cary and moves on.

Cary went on to be the fourth runner up, which is the same as finishing fifth for those who don't watch pageants.

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"I think everyone knows what I meant," she said to the Quad-City Times about the pot gaffe. "But I've taken some heat for that."

She said the incident was particularly ironic because her career goal is to become a pharmaceutical sales representative. She also tweeted an apology.

For this, Mariah Cary is awarded the Gaffe of the Week, commemorated with a picture of Rob Ford in butter.

Gaffe of the Week appears each Thursday
On Yahoo! Canada News.