“We thought they were going to come in and do the right thing, and they didn’t. They’re doubling down, and they’re lying, and that’s even worse.”

Author: Sophie Nieto-Muñoz, monitor from New Jersey

Earlier this month a state appeals court ruled in favor of two Jersey City police officers, saying they shouldn’t have. they were fired for using cannabis outside of workBut it’s unknown what the next steps are in the year-long battle over New Jersey’s legalization of marijuana.

A spokesman for James Solomon, a Democrat who became the city’s new mayor in January, said the city is reviewing the policies of Solomon’s predecessor, Steve Fulop, arguing that federal law prevents armed police officers from using cannabis. But the officers’ lawyer, Michael Rubas, said that the council refused to return them to their old jobs, despite several judgments that they should be reinstated.

“I’m very upset with the way the Salomon administration is handling things. We thought they were going to come in and do the right thing, and they’re not,” Rubas said. “They’re doubling down, and they’re lying, and that’s even worse.”

Solomon’s spokesman, Nathaniel Styer, declined to comment on Rubas’ charges, but noted that the mayor’s view on off-duty police use of cannabis differs depending on the city’s operation under Fulop.

“We are reviewing these policies because they do not align with our views and values,” said spokesman Nathaniel Styer.

The dispute dates back to 2022, months after New Jersey’s legal recreational cannabis market opens. The state attorney general told police departments at the time that the state’s marijuana legalization law did not allow officers to be disciplined for off-duty cannabis use, but Fulop argued that federal law prohibits anyone using a controlled substance from possessing a firearm.

In September 2022, two Jersey City police officers, Norhan Mansour and Omar Polanco, tested positive for cannabis they said they purchased legally on the market. The city suspended and then fired them, but the administrative law judge and then the state Civil Service Commission he sided with the officers and ordered the city to reinstate them. The officers were replaced in their duties in 2024, but did not return to their previous positions.

The municipality appealed two judgments, and on May 1, the state appeals panel govern for the officers A separate decision involving a third police officer upheld that officer’s termination for purchasing cannabis from an unlicensed person.

Rubas said Mansour and Polanco are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in back wages, and have not returned their firearms IDs or weapons.

Jersey City spokesmen did not respond to multiple requests to inquire about the officers’ weapons. The spokesperson of the General Prosecutor’s Office did not want to comment.

The officers still have to have their police licenses reissued by the state Police Training Commission, Rubas said, adding that if the city cooperates, the officers could return to their regular positions within a week.

Rubas said he contacted the Solomon administration several times, including shortly after Solomon took office, to try to resolve the issue. He said he hoped the city’s attitude would change after Fulop left office.

“Nothing has changed. It’s gotten worse,” he said.

This story was first published by the New Jersey Monitor.

A perspective paper to be published in Frontiers in Horticulture addresses the widespread but inconsistent use of the term “sustainable growing media” in the horticultural and greenhouse sectors. The publication, written by an international team of researchers and industry experts including Dr Alexander Sentinella of Growing Media Europe, examines how the term has been diluted and proposes a more rigorous evidence-based approach.

“The term is used to mean almost anything and everything,” said Dr. Sentinella. “Along with terms like ‘green’ or ‘climate friendly’, they start to lose their helpful meaning.” The authors argue that this lack of precision undermines research comparability and decision-making in commercial production.

Misconceptions and oversimplification
The article highlights the common tendency to equate sustainability with a single characteristic, such as renewable, circular or peat-free. “People conflate sustainability with individual concepts like climate footprint or renewables, but these are not interchangeable,” he explains. Labels such as “non-toxic” are identified as particularly problematic, as they are often interpreted as an indication of environmental benefit without support.

“‘Peat-free’ means there’s no peat in the mix. It doesn’t show a lower environmental impact or better sustainability unless that’s actually measured.” The authors warn that these assumptions risk misleading growers and managers.

A multi-dimensional and system-dependent concept
Central to the article is the recognition that the sustainability of growing media encompasses three interrelated pillars: environmental, economic, and social. Environmental impacts include not only the climate footprint, but also land and water use. Economic sustainability includes cost, availability and consistency, while social sustainability covers working conditions, health and safety.

“A product may work well environmentally, but not economically or socially. These trade-offs are unavoidable and must be accepted.” The paper emphasizes that sustainability cannot be attributed to individual materials in isolation, but must be assessed within the entire production system.

“Growing media are part of a larger horticultural system. A substrate with a smaller product footprint that reduces yield can lead to a worse overall outcome when the impacts on total production are considered.”

© Growing Media Europe

From hypotheses to measurement
To improve clarity, the authors advocate measurable system-based assessments. Life cycle methodologies are identified as critical tools, including environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA). The latter follows the framework developed by the United Nations Environment Program and SETAC, which allows for the assessment of impacts between workers, communities and supply chains.

“Most conversations focus on reducing footprints, but we really need to measure them. The results may not match expectations, which is why measurement is necessary.”

The paper also notes that social impact continues to be emphasized in today’s evaluations, despite the availability of methodologies that consider factors such as labor rights, occupational health and community effects along the value chain.

Guidelines for the responsible use of the term
Rather than proposing a universal definition, the authors outline minimum requirements for the responsible use of the term “sustainable growing medium”. These include explicitly defining the scope of claims, identifying which sustainability pillars are addressed and supporting statements with verifiable data. Absolute claims are abandoned in favor of comparative and context-specific language.

“The best step forward is to use more precise terminology,” advises Dr. Sentinella. “If you mean lower environmental impact, say so and measure it.”

Implications for industry and policy
The findings have practical implications for producers, suppliers and policy makers. The paper cautions against relying solely on proxy indicators such as peat reduction as a measure of sustainability. “If policies focus on a single attribute, there is a risk of neglecting wider impacts. We must base decisions on results measured in environmental, economic and social dimensions.”

The authors conclude that progress in sustainable growth media will depend less on redefining the term and more on improving how evidence is generated and communicated. “It is better to say ‘more sustainable’ and explain why. Clear definitions and measurable indicators are essential for progress in the greenhouse sector.”

Be careful last published paper.

For more information:
Growing Media Europe
Dr. Alexander Sentinella, co-author
(email protected)
www.growing-media.eu