Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is undertaking an ambitious plan to connect a series of hiking and biking trails from the Conewago Recreational Trail outside of Elizabethtown to the Schuylkill River Trail in Philadelphia.

A series of existing trails, including the Conewago, the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail and the Chester Valley Trail would be linked creating a 62.7 mile path that would not only provide a continuous scenic recreation trail but also encourage economic development along the route.

On Thursday's Smart Talk, we'll discuss the plan to create this trail linking the central counties to Philadelphia and the environmental and economic impact of such an effort with Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn

Also, Pennsylvania took a big step Wednesday toward making medical marijuana available to Pennsylvanians who can use for seizures, pain and other conditions.

The state announced the launch of its patient and caregiver registry which will allow the Pennsylvania Health Department to start taking applications for people to participate in the program.

Pennsylvania's Acting Secretary of Health and Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine and John Collins, Director of Pennsylvania's Office of Medical Marijuana appear on Thursday's Smart Talk to outline the program.