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Pennsylvania Governor Says Trump’s Marijuana Rescheduling Move Is An ‘Important Step’ That Helps The Push To Legalize In The State

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“Almost all of our neighbors have legalized marijuana and it’s benefiting from hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and revenue.”

By John Cole, The Center Square

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) believes the Trump administration took an “important step” Thursday after redefining how the federal government classifies medical marijuana.

US Attorney General Todd Blanche issued an order immediately FDA approved marijuana products and Marijuana regulated by state medical licenses III of the Controlled Substances Act.

“Governor Shapiro has made it clear that we need to move forward — nearly all of our residents have legalized marijuana and are benefiting from hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and revenue — and this important step by the federal government only adds support to the Governor’s proposal,” Shapiro spokeswoman Rosie Lapowsky told The Center Square. “The Shapiro Administration stands ready to seize this opportunity to work with the General Assembly to legalize marijuana and make our Commonwealth more competitive and fair.”

Since 1970, along with marijuana, heroin, LSD and ecstasy, it has been classified as a Schedule I drug. This designation defined them as drugs with no approved medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Schedule III drugs are defined as having a moderate or low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Some examples of Schedule III drugs are products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.

The Trump administration’s decision on Thursday moves medical marijuana from one of the more restricted drug classifications to an unregulated category and gives cannabis businesses a tax break. However, it is exempt from federal legislation.

In April 2016, then-Gov. Tom Wolf (D) signed the legislation making Pennsylvania the 24th state to create a medical marijuana program.

Shapiro announced his support for legalizing recreational marijuana In 2019, he was serving his first term as state attorney general.

Since being elected governor in 2022, he has called on lawmakers to pass an adult-use program, even as the supposed tax revenue is included in all of his budget plans. If approved on July 1, the administration believes the legalization would raise $729 million.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. He has been an advocate for the legalization of marijuana and celebrated the decision taken by the Trump administration.

“John has been a lifelong supporter of legal weed,” a spokesperson for Fetterman told The Center Square. “It’s a good step forward and he supports it.”

NORML, the National Organization for Marijuana Law Reform, has given Shapiro and Fetterman an “A+” grade for their support of marijuana legalization.

However, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., has seen things differently in the past. In December, he signed a joint letter with 21 Senate Republican colleagues opposing the Trump administration’s reclassification of the drug.

“Scheduling marijuana as a Schedule III drug will undermine your strong efforts to make America Great Again and usher in America’s next economic Golden Age,” the senators wrote in their letter to the Trump administration. “The only winners from the renegotiation will be the bad actors, such as Communist China, who will leave Americans footing the bill.”

In a telephone town hall that same month, McCormick described himself as a “strong advocate for the use of medicinal marijuana,” but said at the time that he was “opposed to moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.”

However, McCormick did not respond to The Center Square’s request for comment Thursday about his thoughts on the Trump administration’s latest move.

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor, also did not respond to The Center Square’s request for comment.

FOX43 reported in August 2025 that Garrity said he did not have a firm policy position on the issue, but cautioned against lawmakers claiming his financial benefits.

“The amount of money they had in the budget, I would say it’s way too much,” Garrity said, according to FOX43. “I don’t have a policy position on that, but I will tell you if they pass the legislation, I’m going to make sure it’s properly bankrolled.”

Organizations in Pennsylvania and beyond have also weighed in on the Trump administration’s latest move.

“Today’s order marks a historic reversal in federal cannabis policy,” said NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano. “It validates the experiences of tens of millions of Americans, as well as tens of thousands of doctors, who have long recognized the legitimate medical utility of cannabis, as well as the legitimacy of longstanding cannabis access programs available in most US states.”

“It wasn’t long ago that federal officials were denying that cannabis had legitimate medical utility, were confiscating doctors’ licenses for discussing medical cannabis with patients, and were shutting down state-licensed marijuana dispensaries,” he added. “Now the government wants to integrate these programs into the existing federal and international framework for regulating substances with recognized medical value.”

The PA Family Institute sees the issue differently. They said they are disappointed with the Trump administration’s decision.

“The PA Family Institute is disappointed with the Trump Administration’s decision to provide significant tax breaks to the marijuana industry and protect this non-addictive industry,” said Dan Bartkowiak, Chief Strategy Officer of the Pennsylvania Family Institute. “Big Marijuana should not be allowed to more easily direct new consumers to harmful marijuana products.”

“In Pennsylvania, the recreational use of marijuana remains illegal, a policy that until now has been maintained by sensible PA Senate leaders. Maintaining this people-first policy helps avoid many of the public health and safety challenges seen in other states,” he added. “Evidence continues to link marijuana use, especially among youth, to increased emergency room visits, mental health concerns, and negative impacts on families and communities.”

A majority of Pennsylvanians think the government should go further, at least according to one poll.

A recent poll by Susquehanna Polling and Research showed 72 percent of Democrats, 67 percent of Republicans and 64 percent of independents Supporting the legalization of recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania.

However, due to the Trump administration’s recent decision, marijuana that is not sold through a state medical program or approved by the FDA remains Schedule I.

40 states have approved medical marijuana programs, and 24 states and Washington, DC, have legalized adult recreational use.

This story was first published by The Center Square.

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Aurora granted Plant Breeders’ Rights in Canada

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8 hours ago

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May 17, 2026

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Aurora Cannabis has been granted Plant Breeder’s rights in Canada for two cannabis cultivars developed through its global breeding program. This certificate gives Aurora exclusive rights to grow, propagate and sell finished products produced from these varieties.

The two protected cultivars, SOT20R07-007 (known as Gas Granja) and SOT20R07-005 (known as Driftwood Diesel), were developed at Aurora Coastal, Aurora’s industry-leading research and development facility in Comox, British Columbia. The company carefully selected these cultivars based on their unique characteristics, how they grow and how consistently they perform. Farm GasT and Driftwood DieselT are the leading medical cannabis products available to patients in Germany, Poland, the UK, Canada and Australia.

© Aurora Cannabis

“These plant breeder rights recognize the extensive work behind our core breeding, genetic development and testing program,” says Lana Culley, Aurora’s Vice President of Innovation and International Operations. “They reflect a cross-disciplinary approach to developing cultivars that provide consistency, performance and reliability to medical cannabis patients around the world.”

Understanding plant breeders’ rights in Canada
Plant breeders’ rights are a form of intellectual property protection, similar to patents, that apply specifically to new and different plant varieties. In Canada, plant breeders’ rights are granted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and give growers exclusive rights to produce and sell a protected plant variety. This framework recognizes the significant scientific investment required to develop cultivars that are clearly distinct and produce the same results over time. For Aurora, plant breeders’ rights protect the cannabis genetics developed through its in-house breeding program, supporting ongoing innovation and long-term research.

For more information:
Aurora Cannabis Inc.
auroramj.com



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New Jersey Police Fired For Off-Duty Marijuana Use Still Haven’t Been Reinstated Despite Court Ruling In Their Favor

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8 hours ago

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May 17, 2026

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“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.

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Rethinking “sustainable growing media” in greenhouse production

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1 day ago

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May 16, 2026

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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

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